By Paul Dunlop
LITTERS of kittens found dumped in rubbish bins or left to drown in nearby creeks have prompted renewed calls for Pakenham residents to have their cats de-sexed.
Animal lover Louise Major said she was alarmed by what appeared to be a growing number of unwanted pets being abandoned by their owners.
She said it was a cruel and unnecessary punishment that could be avoided by a more responsible approach to pet care.
Ms Major cares for unwanted kittens and tries to find them new homes.
“I just want people to think a bit more about what they’re doing. I hate to see animals being treated cruelly and if people de-sexed their cats there wouldn’t be any hassle.”
Over the past 12 months, Ms Major has taken in many kittens dumped in all manner of places by people unable — or unwilling — to care for them.
“They’ve been found in bags dumped in the creek, in rubbish bins, on the side of the road, all over the place,” she said.
The unwanted parcels have found their way to Ms Major after she put up signs around Pakenham advising that she would take in kittens and seek new owners.
Ms Major, who also volunteers for SOS Rescue and works at local wildlife shelters, said it was heart-wrenching to think people could just leave their pets for dead.
“It is a big problem and it happens every breeding season,” she said.
Cardinia Shire Council has taken a strong stance on the issue, recently approving a local law that requires all cats over three months old to be de-sexed unless otherwise permitted.
Local veterinary clinics have also spoken out against animal dumping and initiated several programs to remind people that pets are for life.
Kittens and other animals have also been left outside pet shops in recent times, prompting further calls for people to look beyond the cute and cuddly aspect and consider the responsibilities of pet ownership.
Pakenham Veterinary Clinic nurse Jean Hill recently established an Adopt-A-Kitten program that offers kittens that have been de-sexed, vaccinated, micro-chipped and come in a carry box.
The veterinary services cost $150 but mean the kitten is given everything needed to set it on the path to nine long and healthy lives.
>>> Anybody looking for a pet kitten can contact Louise Major on 0423682129.
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