{"id":27207,"date":"2018-02-20T15:10:28","date_gmt":"2018-02-20T04:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rspcasa.org.au\/?p=27207"},"modified":"2019-02-22T14:13:23","modified_gmt":"2019-02-22T03:43:23","slug":"clear-the-shelters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rspcasa.org.au\/clear-the-shelters\/","title":{"rendered":"RSPCA to \u2018Clear the Shelter\u2019 with $29 adoption fees"},"content":{"rendered":"

RSPCA is aiming to Clear the Shelter this weekend with $29 adoption fees for animals great and small, regardless of age or species,1 in an attempt to find new homes for the thousands of animals in care across the country.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In South Australia alone, RSPCA has over 1,100 animals in its care, and is urgently looking to rehome 200 animals ready for homes from Friday to Sunday this week.<\/p>\n

\"Clear<\/p>\n

Last year during a three-day Clear the Shelter promotion, RSPCA New South Wales adopted 90% of animals in their shelters available for adoption. This year the campaign has spread across the country, with South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Darwin, Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales all participating in RSPCA\u2019s biggest ever adoption drive.<\/p>\n

\u201cParticularly at this time of year when it\u2019s the cat breeding season, our facilities are operating at capacity and we are constantly looking for innovative ways to adopt our animals into the community,\u201d said Tim Charles, Head of Animal Operations at RSPCA South Australia.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope this promotion gives extra incentive to people looking for a new pet to head to RSPCA and choose the rewarding experience of adopting a rescue animal.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll included in the $29 adoption fee is desexing, microchipping, vaccination and vet-checks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Animals looking for forever homes include kittens, cats, dogs, rabbits, chickens and ducks.<\/p>\n

South Australia currently has nearly 200 animals available for adoption statewide, some having spent over 110 days in our care. Normal adoption procedures apply including a one-on-one with prospective new adoptive parents to ensure all our animals go to great homes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the recent success of our recent CatPacity event where 181 cats found homes and looking at adoption promotions in the past, we continue to monitor the results carefully and evidence shows that there is no higher return rate or negative impacts for the animal\u2019s welfare.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe find the majority of people are already looking at adopting a pet, and this special adoption drive helps them make that decision to head down to Lonsdale and adopt, not shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur normal adoption prices rarely cover what it costs to prepare an animal for adoption; for example for the average length of stay for an adult cat before adoption \u2013 44 days \u2013 the cost of boarding, food,
\nenrichment, vet care, vaccinations, de-sexing and microchipping is $1,142, so the $29 fees definitely don\u2019t come close.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s getting a huge number of animals out of shelters and into forever homes that is a huge success and a really worthwhile investment,\u201d Mr Charles said.<\/p>\n

RSPCA South Australia\u2019s Clear the Shelter Adoption Campaign:<\/h3>\n