Earlier this year, Christies Beach student, Charlee, was struggling to feed the family’s cats and find homes for their kittens.
“My cats had been breeding and we found it hard to stop this – it started with only a few, but more litters came,” she said.
Enter a partnership between the City of Onkaparinga and Safe Pets Safe Families.
“We attended a Community Connections Day with our case managers for support and we felt anxious but happy to meet the support service from Safe Pets Safe Families,” Charlee said.
“We were surprised to find people who were able to offer us help and were kind to us.
“We had the cats microchipped and immunised and we were then able to have desexing arranged for the adult cats we were keeping. They collected them and returned them to us. We had this done free of charge, which helped us.”
Another local pet owner Sam, a single mum from Old Reynella, was similarly in a tough spot recently with her 6-year-old Rottweiler-cross-Staffy.
“I had to get a collar, get him desexed and buy other bits and pieces,” she said.
“When you’re financially strapped or you have no room to move, it can be really, really tricky.”
The partnership between the City of Onkaparinga and Safe Pets Safe Families, however, saw the council put Sam in touch with the not-for-profits’ community engagement officer to see how they could help.
“It doesn’t matter what sort of position you’re in, whether financially or if you’ve got other stuff going on in your life, they’re just so flexible and willing to help you so give them a try,” Sam said.
The next Community Connections Day is being held at Christie Downs’ Wardli Centre on Wednesday 22 October where you can find out what support is available to you for your furry friend through the council and Safe Pets Safe Families partnership (events funded by the Dog and Cat Management Board).
You can get help with pet registration, desexing and microchipping; pet behaviour and health advice; plus a free sausage sizzle, giveaways and more.
The council’s community safety officers (or “rangers”) also attend the events and clinics. Much of their day-to-day role involves responding to wandering dogs and other dog incidents, so they love chatting with locals about positive pet ownership and compliance.
Both Sam and Charlee said their pets are like family to them, and they’d encourage anyone else who needs support to attend the Wednesday 22 October event.
“We learnt there are people out there who are willing to help, who are also animal lovers who care about others’ pets,” said Charlee.
“We’re very grateful for the help and support we received.”
Pictured
Charlee (right) with friend Sharna and a council ranger at a Community Connections Day.