Above: Twelve-week-old Bella was the first dog to be adopted through the centre.
By Kelly Yates
AUSTRALIA’S first animal adoption centre opened it doors yesterday (Wednesday) at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital Adoption Centre in Narre Warren.
Animal welfare organisation Lort Smith partnered with Pets at Home retailer to open the first adoption centre within a pet store.
The adoption centre is the first step in an effort to reduce the alarming numbers of animals being dumped on Melbourne’s streets.
Lort Smith Animal Hospital chief executive Ric Holland said the organisation received more than 850 animals during the Christmas period.
“This highlights the critical need to promote responsible pet ownership and combat the abandonment of animals,” he said.
Pets at Home no longer offers any puppies, dogs, kittens or cats for sale from within the store, but is choosing to provide re-homing and adoption facilities.
All animals coming to the North Melbourne hospital are already vet checked, vaccinated, wormed, microchipped and desexed.
Australia has the highest household pet ownership in the world at 63 per cent.
Lort Smith Animal Hospital Adoption Centre will be opened in every Pets at Home store.
Adopting a pet is a lifetime commitment and anyone adopting must be over 18 years.
Twelve-week-old Bella, a Staffordshire bull terrier/Rhodesian ridgeback cross, was the first dog to be adopted by a new family through the centre.
Bella’s proud new owner Sheena Smith said the Lort Smith Animal Hospital Adoption Centre was a fantastic initiative.
“This program will save the lives of hundreds of stray animals by providing them with loving families and new homes,” Ms Smith said.
“I strongly urge anyone to visit the Lort Smith Animal Hospital Adoption Centre if they are considering owning a pet.”
