Animal Aid is reaching breaking point, with more than 60 cats and 25 kittens available for adoption and in desperate need of loving homes at our three shelters in Bairnsdale, Sale and Coldstream. The majority of these felines are at the Coldstream shelter as the Gippsland shelters even more stretched for space.

With over 20 kittens still out on foster, this situation is reaching crisis levels as we experience an overload of kittens and cats that have been unplanned, lost or surrendered.

'Just yesterday I took a call from someone who was looking to surrender a litter of 11 week old kittens.' Says Shelter Cattery Supervisor, Lynn Bell. "It's the middle of winter for crying out loud and we are still getting kittens and pregnant mothers in, it just shouldn't be happening, but it is.'

Despite resources being extremely stretched, all the cats are given the full Animal Aid treatment which includes a temperament assessment, veterinary check, vaccination, desexing and micro chipping – all ready for their new home.

On average, more than 2,220 cats and kittens find their way to the Animal Aid shelter catteries in Coldstream, Sale and Bairnsdale each year. Most of these arrivals are a direct result of people who neglected to get their cat desexed.

Animal Aid is working hard to reduce the number of unwanted cats, through desexing and micro chipping programs and our staff and volunteers do an amazing job.

One of the more colourful feline characters waiting for a new home is Teddy Bear (pictured right), featured in this news bulletin. So we are urging all Victorians to find their 'inner cat' and consider adopting a cat for their home.

Cats are simply wonderful pets. They are loving, warm and have a beautiful and unique temperament to match. If you don't have any room in your life for another purrfect pet please ensure that your current companions are desexed and not adding to the overpopulation problem.

News Flash!!!
The first of our four week Puppy Pre School courses has been scheduled for 6pm, July 21 at the Coldstream facility. We will cover a wide range of topics for puppy owners including the basics of obedience such as sitting, dropping, staying and heel, all using positive rewards based methods. Topics such as toilet training, healthcare, vaccinations, parasite control, dental care, bathing and nail trimming will also be covered.

This comprehensive course costs just $90 and is a must for puppies between the age of 8-16 weeks. For more information please call Belinda on 9739 0500 or email bgale@animalaid.org.au.

Newsletter
Have you seen our latest printed Newsletter - "The Start of Something Wonderful"? Please click this link to download a copy.

Goodbye Jo!
We send our very best wishes with Joanne Boland as she embarks on her well deserved retirement. Good Luck Jo - we look forward to seeing you soon as a volunteer.