A Campbellfield animal rescue group wants to kickstart an outreach program to help disadvantaged Hume residents struggling to keep up with the cost of looking after their pets.
Second Chance Animal Rescue hopes the program will reduce the number of pets being dumped or surrendered to shelters.
The group was one of 16 community groups to make a submission on Hume council’s 2016-17 budget, asking for $20,000.
However, founder Marisa Debattista said the group would look for funding elsewhere if its submission was unsuccessful.
She said group members are passionate about helping people keep their pets.
“Every day we are getting calls from Hume residents needing help with their pets,” Ms Debattista said.
“We want to help them help their pets before they need to dump them. We see the need for a program like this in Hume.”
Second Chance Animal Rescue believes the program could help more than 650 people by providing services such as desexing, microchipping, worming and grooming.
It believes the program will be the first of its kind in Victoria.
Community programs officer Jenny Gay said the group wanted to break down the barriers preventing people from accessing health care services for their pets.
“If someone can barely afford to feed their kids, desexing their pets is down the chain of what they need to do,” she said.
The council will make a decision on budget submissions this week.
