MEDIA RELEASE

 

For Immediate release

 Senior pets missing out on loving homes

Australia’s largest non-for-profit animal hospital is calling on the community to open their hearts and homes to senior pets with older pets spending in excess of 100 and 200 days in shelters without homes.

 

Lort Smith Spokesperson Suzana Talevski said it was heartbreaking seeing dogs and cats consistently overlooked for their younger counterparts.

 

‘’We believe a national campaign educating potential pet owners on the benefits of giving older pets a second chance could really go a long way,’’ said Ms Talevski.

 

‘’We already know that shelters are over run with animals, especially this time of the year where it’s a culmination of kitten breeding season, people returning to work, the end of summer holidays. This spells a major catastrophic situation for adoption centres with a major overflow of animals and many of them young and under 2 years old.

 

‘’What that means is it is even harder for senior pets to find a happy loving retirement home. This breaks our hearts.’’

 

Ms Talevski said the majority of senior pets are just like any other pet.

 

‘’We have heard of the saying that age is just a number. We want this now applied to pets as well,’’ she said.

 

‘’Senior pets are so grateful for a second chance and deserve just as much love. We believe there needs to be stronger education about the responsibilities of pet ownership so senior pets are viewed with the same love and adoration as any other animal. A pet is for life whether they are 6 months old, 6 years old or 16 and beyond.’’

 

MEDIA INTERVIEWS & CONTACT

Suzana Talevski, Head of Media and Digital Content, Lort Smith Animal Hospital
Mobile: 0403 047 945