Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis and Peter Foster MLC with SAFE Founder Sue Hedley, Karratha SAFE Branch Manager Elichia Cervellin and SAFE Karratha volunteers Marie Fabro and Tracey Smyth.
Dog owners will soon have to have their pets sterilised, SAFE Esperance coordinator Janine Button said.
“The law is going to change so any dog over two years old has to be desexed unless you are a registered breeder,” she said.
“The rangers will be able to enforce that and we are all looking forward to that day.”
“People think when they are getting a backyard puppy it is very cheap or free but you should desex to stop unwanted pups, and for the health of the animal,” she said.
“For a bitch to keep breeding, you should allow it to have a considerable time off between puppies so they can get their strength back.
Ms Button said it was important to consider the cost of desexing before deciding to own a pet.
“If dogs have a litter every six or eight months they come in being underweight with skin issues, with mange, being really rundown generally.
“Continuous pups are not a good idea because there aren’t enough homes out there to cater for them.”
The WA Government is giving a $50,000 grant to SAFE for desexing and microchipping, to be shared between its 11 branches between Broome and Esperance.
Ms Button said a lot of people cannot afford to desex their pets so the grant had become really important.
WA Agriculture minister Jackie Jarvis said SAFE leveraged its relationships with veterinary clinics across the State to facilitate the services at a reduced cost for people experiencing hardship.
“The Animal Welfare Grant Program plays an essential role in supporting the wonderful work of these important not-for-profit organisations throughout the State,” she said.
“It was great to meet with the dedicated staff and volunteers of SAFE in Karratha recently, who play an important role in caring for and rehoming rescued and surrendered companion animals across WA.”
