By Holly McGuinness
The Epping Animal Welfare Facility is aiming to reduce the number of quarantine days that animals are held for in an effort to improve their welfare.
The initiative comes from the RSPCA, who will reduce quarantine days from eight to three days before transferring pets to foster or adoption homes.
The RSPCA, which manages the Epping facility, has said that by reducing this time, it will improve the wellbeing of animals in their care and help them to better transition to new homes.
Animals in shelter quarantines have an increased level of stress as they’re confined to a small space, not able to interact with other animals and are unable to exercise regular behaviour due to the confinements of quarantine.
The RSPCA has said evidence shows animals who are kept in shelters for longer periods of time are also more likely to catch diseases like kennel cough and cat flu.
With 14,000 animals accepted by the RSPCA every year the proposed three day quarantine makes sense as 87 per cent of cats and dogs received by the RSPCA are reclaimed by owners within three days.
Animals reclaimed from the RSPCA must be microchipped and desexed prior to release as they state that pets with up to date microchip details are more likely to be reunited with their owners.
If an owner needs more time to arrange pick up of their pet they can organise this directly with the shelter as the RSPCA prefers to reunite animals with their owners than hold them for adoption.
Whittlesea council will be taking over the shelter management from the RSPCA shelter after October 16 this year, in partnership with Moreland and Darebin councils.
Council has confirmed the services provided will not change and will continue rescuing animals across the region.
The facility is set to be renamed and launched in 2023.
