Media releases

RSPCA SA calls on community to support final days of Christmas campaign

It’s happy times for RSPCA South Australia’s team this week, as kind-hearted animal lovers respond to the charity’s call to sponsor animals spending Christmas in the organisation’s shelters and to provide loving homes for adult cats – three of which had been in RSPCA’s care for more than 100 days.

With animals continuing to arrive at RSPCA South Australia’s three shelters and the organisation’s rescue team in demand (particularly in the current heatwave), donations to the annual Guardian Angel Christmas appeal are desperately needed.

“For anyone looking for the ideal last-minute Christmas gift for animal lovers in their lives, this could be the answer,” RSPCA South Australia spokesperson Carolyn Jones said.

Donations can be made at –

rspcaguardianangel.com.au

“Our Lonsdale shelter will remain open every day over the festive season except Christmas Day and our regular closure day, Tuesday,” Ms Jones said.

“It’s always especially busy over these summer months with kitten season well underway and extreme high temperatures putting animals at risk.”

Guardian Angel donations help cover the costs of caring for animals in need as they await their forever homes during the holiday season.

Until recently, two tiny kittens seen in CCTV security camera footage being abandoned by a man and a woman in Tea Tree Plaza last month were among the animals in RSPCA’s care waiting for new homes. (Members of the public have helped RSPCA South Australia inspectors positively identify the couple, although their whereabouts remain unknown.)

However, as RSPCA’s staff and team of volunteer foster carers continue to look after more than 490 kittens, the two Tea Tree Plaza kittens are set to spend this Christmas in a loving new home – their foster carer, Jasmine Woolcock, has admitted to being a foster fail.

“By the end of the first day of having them, my partner and I knew we wouldn’t be able to give them back,” Jasmine recalls.

“They are just too much fun to have around and make us laugh all the time, though they’re a little naughty too – some of our Christmas decorations aren’t looking too good now.”

RSPCA’s major Guardian Angel Christmas appeal comes alongside its first-time “12 Days of Cat-Mas” campaign, launched last Friday. Cats aged over six months are available to adopt fee-free – and a total of 50 cats have already gone to new homes. Forty cats were adopted in the first three days alone.

The fee-free adoption offer for cats over six months of age ends at 4pm next Monday, December 23, as the shelter is always closed on Tuesdays and on Christmas day.

All cats adopted from RSPCA South Australia are fully vaccinated, desexed, microchipped for identification and vet checked. Although they are available for free, all usual adoption procedures are followed to ensure adopters can provide a good home that suits each cat’s temperament and needs.

According to Tim Charles, RSPCA South Australia’s Head of Animal Operations, staff are trained to assess the capacity of prospective adopters to properly care for animals.

“If our staff have any concerns, then adoption does not proceed,” Mr Charles said.

“Thankfully, we have found no evidence of any increase in welfare issues with cats that are adopted for free. If there were, we wouldn’t do it.”

Those who want to help but are unable to adopt can still give the gift of kindness this Christmas by becoming an RSPCA Guardian Angel:

rspcaguardianangel.com.au

 

Winston, one of two kittens abandoned in Tea Tree Plaza, Modbury, in November

 

7 year old Chester came into RSPCA SA’s care in August and is still waiting for his new home.