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.

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.

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’s biggest ever adoption drive.

“Particularly at this time of year when it’s 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,” said Tim Charles, Head of Animal Operations at RSPCA South Australia.

“We 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.

“All included in the $29 adoption fee is desexing, microchipping, vaccination and vet-checks,” he said.

Animals looking for forever homes include kittens, cats, dogs, rabbits, chickens and ducks.

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.

“After 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’s welfare.

“We 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.

“Our 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 – 44 days – the cost of boarding, food,

enrichment, vet care, vaccinations, de-sexing and microchipping is $1,142, so the $29 fees definitely don’t come close.

“But it’s getting a huge number of animals out of shelters and into forever homes that is a huge success and a really worthwhile investment,” Mr Charles said.

RSPCA South Australia’s Clear the Shelter Adoption Campaign:

Friday 23rd February until Sunday 25th February

Includes RSPCA Lonsdale, Whyalla and Port Lincoln Shelters

Extended opening hours at RSPCA Lonsdale’s Shelter: 25 Meyer Road, Lonsdale Friday: 10am – 4pm Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 2pm

All adoption fees $29 – including dogs, cats, kittens and rabbits

200 animal urgently seeking homes

All animals desexed, microchipped, vaccinated and vet-checked

Don’t panic if you miss you this weekend – we always have lots of animals constantly coming into our care. Visit www.rspcasa.org.au/adopt to check out your potential new furever family member.

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