The start of 2022 is the perfect time to give a rabbit or cat its forever home.
RSPCA Victoria’s New Year, New Home adoption promotion has launched, aiming to rehome as many rabbits and cats as possible with adoption fees reduced to $22 per animal.
The New Year, New Home adoption promotion will run at four RSPCA Victoria sites including Burwood East, Peninsula and Epping Animal Welfare Facility, Wangaratta and Warrnambool from 4 to 18 January 2022.
All adult rabbit adoption fees will be reduced from $68 and cat adoption fees will be reduced from $120, in honour of what is sure to be another big year in the world of animal welfare.
All senior cats (over 10 years old) and rabbits (over five years old) will continue to have their adoption fees waived.
RSPCA Victoria’s head of operations, Tanya Drakopoulos, says small animals such as rabbits and cats make engaging and affectionate pets.
“They may be small, but rabbits and cats are colourful characters with big personalities. They have just as much love to give as dogs, if their owners focus on building a strong bond and caring for them properly by giving them all they need for a rich and rewarding life,” she said.
“Sadly, many people buy rabbits and cats under the guise that they are low maintenance, however they are naturally active, social, curious and intelligent animals who require as much care as other pets.”
Last year alone, 226 rabbits and 671 cats were surrendered to RSPCA Victoria Animal Care Centres.
The most common reason reported by owners for surrender was not having enough time to care for the animal.
“We see a lot of rabbits and cats come through our Inspectorate because people do not invest the time or energy that is needed to care for them properly,” Ms Drakopoulos said.
“Spending quality time with pets is one of the best ways to build a bond and have a meaningful relationship with these special animals.
“Equally important is ensuring cats and rabbits have all of the fundamental freedoms to live a happy and healthy life including adequate space, food, enrichment, and the company of other desexed animals.”
While RSPCA Victoria’s New Year, New Home offers reduced adoption fees, the same time and effort goes into carefully matching each animal to the right family. Anyone wanting to adopt an animal from RSPCA Victoria is still required to proceed through the usual adoption process to ensure they meet the specific behavioural and environmental needs of the relevant animal.
RSPCA Victoria has held several successful discounted and fee-waived adoption promotions and the community can be assured the normal process applies. Studies have shown that there is no difference in the care provided for an animal whether adopted through a fee-waiver program or for a fee.
The New Year, New Home adoption campaign aims to show Victorians the value of rabbits and cats as companion animals and how they can make the perfect option for people who live in smaller dwellings.
Did you know this about rabbits? Rabbits love to play with toys, rabbits can be litter trained, just like cats, rabbits thrive on an indoor lifestyle, rabbits are most active during the morning and evening, making them the perfect pet for those who maintain a busy lifestyle during the day.
Did you know this about cats? Cats can live a healthy and happy life when kept contained to the home, cats are fastidiously clean animals, while cats require social interaction to be happy, they also love their privacy, like dogs, cats enjoy a regular routine.
All rabbits and cats adopted from RSPCA Victoria are health checked, microchipped, vaccinated and desexed. For additional information about how to care for rabbits and cats, visit rspcavic.org
