Explosion in pocket pets arriving in Melbourne shelters

The number of pocket pets arriving at The Lost Dogs’ Home shelters has almost tripled in six months leading to calls for pet owners to carefully consider their adoption choices.

Shelter supervisor Allie Small said the cause was likely due to a combination of the increase in the cost to purchase a dog from a breeder during COVID, the demand outstripping the supply of animals in the shelters and the perception that pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets are low maintenance.

“The difficulty people had getting a pet during this period has led them to look at different alternatives,’’ said Ms Small.

“Pocket pets may be small, but they are as deserving of our love as their larger counterparts such as dogs and cats. It is heart breaking watching so many of them, often not microchipped, being abandoned in such alarming numbers.’’

Rabbits and Guinea Pigs are also viewed as low maintenance and children friendly pets (which is not necessarily the case) so families took on these pets while their children were remote learning.  Rabbits and Guinea Pigs may not cost a lot to purchase and set up in the home, however their ongoing maintenance (feeding requirements, medical care and enrichment needs) are often more specialised than a dog or a cat, so they can become costly over time.

Ms Small said this often leads to people surrendering or rehoming these pets as they are unable to appropriately care for them.

The Lost Dogs’ Home is working with its rescue and corporate partners to re-home all pets that arrive at our shelters.

Pocket pets arriving at our North Melbourne and Cranbourne shelters:

For further information or to organise interviews please contact:

Suzana Talevski
T: 03 9321 8719
M: 0436 836 836
E: suzana.talevski@dogshome.com