The loss of Port Lincoln’s RSPCA shelter has been felt by the city, but RSPCA SA’s Carolyn Jones says their services aren’t needed in the area.
“We’ve decided to close our shelter because the number of stray animals coming to us via the council has dropped to such a level that it really isn’t viable for us to have an animal shelter in the city anymore,” Ms Jones says.
The closure has put additional pressure on local cat rescue service, Making a Difference Cat Rescue and Adoptions Inc.
Manager of the Rescue, Rosemary Hunt, says they need foster carers.
“Foster carers come and go for different reasons… so we’ve got probably half a dozen foster carers at the moment that do help, but with the closure of the RSPCA, we’re going to have to have so many more people helping,” Ms Hunt explains.
Port Lincoln City Council will work closely with the Whyalla RSCPA team, and Council CEO Eric Brown says they only trap cats when necessary.
“There’s a clear process by which we actually start trapping, CEO Brown says.
“Generally that’ll be a complaint by members of the community in which we’ll identify that there is a stray cat issue within a particular area.
“Generally people will have antisocial behaviour or destructive behaviour from cats, they’ll complain to council, council will then generally put out traps, they’ll catch cats potentially, and in the vast majority of cases those are returned to their owners.”
Those that are un-owned undergo an assessment to see if they’re suitable for re-homing.
