Hume council is set to benefit from a $25,000 grant as part of a state government initiative to tackle cat overpopulation and support vulnerable cat owners.
The grant is part of a broader $300,000 funding announcement, which will be spread across 14 councils with the money going towards supporting animal rescue shelters to increase cat desexing rates.
Agriculture Minister Ros Spence visited Second Chance Animal Rescue in Craigieburn, one of two veterinary clinics in Hume set to receive funding.
During her September 6 visit, Ms Spence said “This targeted cat desexing program supports local councils to provide free or low-cost desexing services, which will help manage the overpopulation of cats and alleviate the pressure on our state’s animal shelters.”
Second Chance Animal Rescue will use this funding to to desex 80 cats, which CEO Maria Debattista said will limit unwanted litters and reduce the long-term number of cats in shelters or facing euthanasia.
“One of the main reasons people don’t desex their pets is because they can’t afford it. These grants make cat desexing more accessible for vulnerable community members,” she said.
Greenvale MP Iwan Walters said that Second Chance Animal Rescue was a deserving recipient of the funding.
“Second Chance Animal Shelter is an amazing shelter doing such important work in our community by providing genuine care and support to animals in need – and I am glad that this program will enable them to support vulnerable cats and their owners,“ he said.
The council-run desexing program will support people who care for semi-owned and unowned cats and help them take full ownership of these cats by providing free desexing, microchipping, and in some cases free registration the first year.
The program will also provide free and low-cost desexing services to cats owned by people who may be experiencing financial hardship.
