Council helps find animals new homes

Published on 02 August 2023

Gannawarra Shire Council’s Local Laws team continues to reunite residents with their lost cats and dogs, as well as find surrendered animals new homes.

During the past few weeks the team have achieved major success stories, including reuniting a cat lost for more than one year with its Kerang-based family and utilising its network of adoption centres to find new homes for surrendered and neglected animals.

“Our Local Laws team understands how important it is to reunite residents with their beloved animals,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson said.

“Recently our team helped to reunite a Kerang family with a cat which had been missing for more than a year, with this success made possible thanks to the owners doing the right thing and having their cat microchipped and registered with Council.

“All cats and dogs found or passed on to our Local Laws team who cannot be reunited with their owners are cared for, and the team works with various adoption centres to ensure any unclaimed cats and dogs find a new forever home.”

Two examples of this process working successfully are Snowy the dog and Sir Walter Whiskers the cat.

Snowy was recently surrendered to Council, with the people who surrendered her – who had themselves tried to reunite her with her owner - believing that she had been dumped. As a result of what is believed to be uneducated breeding, she has a genetic mutation causing her to be blind, deaf and have other health issues.

Snowy has found a new home in South Australia thanks to Jenny’s Angels Dog Rescue, with Starting Over Dog Rescue assisting by traveling from the Mornington Peninsula to transport Snowy to South Australia via Mildura.

Meanwhile, House of Chances animal rescue will find cat, Sir Walter Whiskers a new home, with his story going viral on social media.

Found locally as a stray who had been severely abused, Local Laws team members and staff from Border Vets Kerang helped rehabilitate him.

“Sir Walter Whiskers was found with a chain around his neck that had to be cut off. He also had raw and bleeding paws, a shaved tail and back, was covered in parasites, starving, and had all whiskers and eyebrows cut or burnt off,” Mr Rollinson said.

“Despite all of this, Sir Walter Whiskers was the most loving, forgiving and affectionate cat our team has looked after.”

All animals, whether strays or ones surrendered to Council, are assessed for general health and behavior before being found the most appropriate homes.

“Being a responsible pet owner not only involves looking after your beloved pet. It also involves having the courage to ask for help in rehoming your animals when you no longer have the capacity to do so,” Mr Rollinson said.

“If you are having trouble caring for your pets, please contact Council and our Local Laws team can work with you in developing a solution that is best for you and your beloved animals.

For more information regarding responsible pet ownership, please visit www.gsc.vic.gov.au/animals

ABOVE: Snowy (left) and Sir Walter Whiskers have found new homes thanks to the efforts of Gannawarra Shire Council's Local Laws team.