- Awareness campaign encourages people to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters or rescue organisations
- Many different pets are looking for a new home and owner that is their perfect match
- Responsible pet ownership and registration is key to the CookLabor Government's Stop Puppy Farming reforms
The Cook Labor Government has launched a major community awareness campaign to encourage people looking for a new pet to first consider adopting a dog or cat from an animal rescue organisation.
The 'Adopt, Don't Shop' campaign aims to link people with a pet that best suits their home and circumstances and highlights the significant benefits of opening your heart to a rescue pet.
In the lead up to the festive season and summer holidays, many people consider bringing a pet into their home because they have extra time off to help them settle in and create a strong bond with the animal.
With more animals being surrendered or abandoned, animal rescue organisations are busier than ever, with many dogs and cats waiting for a home.
Adopting or fostering a pet has the benefit of relieving pressure on rescue organisations that have many different types of dogs and cats needing a new family or owner.
Rescue animals are desexed, microchipped, vaccinated, checked by a vet and importantly their characteristics and behaviour are known to the rescue organisation to ensure their new home is the best fit for them and their new owner.
The campaign supports the Cook Labor Government'sDog Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Act 2021,which is delivering important measures to combat the practice of puppy farming through a staged approach.
These include mandatory sterilisation, transitioning pet shops to adoption centres, breeder registration and establishing a centralised registration system, PetsWA.
PetsWA will combine the dog and cat registers of 139 individual local governments in WA, as well as records of approved breeders, into one centralised pet registration system.
Pet owners will be able to register their dog or cat online and easily transfer registration if they move between local governments. It will also improve animal welfare and allow greater visibility of pet breeding, ownership and transfer.
In the interim, pet owners are reminded to register their dog or cat with their local government.
The Cook Labor Government also recently announced a $500,000 investment in the RSPCA's Pet Sterilisation Program to subsidise the cost for eligible pet owners on low incomes.
Further changes to come into effect later in 2025 include making it compulsory for dogs to be sterilised at two years old, unless exempt.
TheCat Act2011already requires cats to be sterilised at six months, unless exempt.
People looking to find their perfect pet match, and find out more about responsible pet ownership, are encouraged to visit pets.wa.gov.au
Western Australians are encouraged to help spread the word about the joys of pet adoption by sharing their stories on social media using #AdoptDon'tShopWA, #PetsWA and #RescuePets.
As stated by Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley:
"There are so many positive adoption stories from people who have opened their homes and their hearts to a rescue pet that has become a much-loved companion and member of their family.
"By choosing to adopt a rescue pet this festive season, or at any time of the year, you will be helping the many animals in WA shelters and rescue organisations that are ready for a new home to provide the love and care they deserve.
"The staff and volunteers who run WA's animal rescue organisations do an incredible job and there is nothing they would like more than to see more dogs and cats re-homed.
"The Cook Labor Government has provided record funding to support the work of many of these organisations and we value their role in caring for our community's vulnerable four-legged friends.
"I would encourage anyone considering a new pet to look for their perfect match through adoption and provide a much-needed home for a rescue animal.
"This campaign encourages responsible pet ownership and complements our Stop Puppy Farming reforms, which are part of what we're doing to end the cruel practice of puppy farming."
