Why do so many healthy, innocent dogs end up in the Pound?

Every day a staggering amount of innocent healthy dogs and cats are impounded at Council Pounds be it via owner surrenders,strays or seized by authorities.

In 2023 the national intake was ~200,00 (547 each day) with a 20% euthanasia rate (110 per day).

In 2022, over 60,000 cats were taken in by Council Pounds (164 per day) and around 10,000 were euthanised (27 per day).

Back Yard Breeders continue to fly under the radar, not only overwhelming the dog population due to an ever-perpetuating state of un-microchipped, un-vaccinated and un-desexed puppies but, many are bred in unsanitary conditions and breeding poor health. More tragically, when the ‘cash cow’ mumma is no longer useful she is either dumped at the Pound or worse, euthanised

Who doesn’t love a cute puppy! But they grow into adults and the cuteness factor disappears for many irresponsible owners.

Then there were the Covid babies, bought as lock down companions, not socialised and reliant on their every present owners, ultimately deemed problem dogs when owners returned to the office due to barking, separation anxiety, little exercise or mental or physical stimulation.

People forced to give away their beloved dogs due to the financial crisis, purely to keep a roof over their heads or to put food on the table.

In urban areas, places like towns, cities, rubbish dumps, and intensive farms, around 0.7 million feral cats are estimated to live in colonies near food sources such as waste bins and farms.

Many cats aren't desexed, so kittens are born in backyards, industrial sites, or colonies.

Owners often can't rehome their cats and sadly dump them instead, leading to more strays.

People move house, can't afford vet bills, or just don't want the responsibility. Cats are left behind, dumped in rural areas, or surrendered to pounds.

Shockingly, a pound is only legally obliged to hold an animal ~8 days (varies minimally between states) and then can be euthanised.

The majority of pounds allow direct adoption and will advertise their animals however, adoptions have ground to a halt and as more animals come in, kennel space reaches capacity and the long termers get euthanised.  

The only remaining lifeline for these poor animals is for an affiliated Rescue to step in and ‘save’ them from deathrow – this can only be done if the rescue has capacity, funds, fosters or adopters.