‘People don’t want to think about it’: How animal shelters are reaching crisis point

2 months ago 4

Shortly before Christmas, a heavily pregnant Staffordshire bull terrier named Peridot found herself without a home.

Her owner had recently died, and with the man’s extended family unable to care for her, a flurry of phone calls were quickly made to animal shelters and council pounds. Most were unsuccessful.

Jess Mogielski with Peridot and her litter of puppies.

Staff said that even before Christmas, which is traditionally a busy time for surrenders, they were at capacity and unable to take any more animals in.

Thankfully, a temporary foster home was found with Jess Mogielski. On Christmas Eve, Peridot gave birth to a litter of eight puppies.

A former veterinary nurse, Mogielski described the terrier as lovely. “She’s just a happy girl. She’s one of the easiest mums I’ve had,” Mogielski said.

Having volunteered and worked with various organisations for almost 15 years, Mogielski said pets being surrendered or abandoned by their owners has been a hidden issue in Victoria for a long time.

“A lot of people don’t want to think about it … most normal people, they don’t understand the problem. They don’t see it,” she said.

A spokesperson from RSPCA Victoria said that since October 1, they had triaged more than 720 inquiries from people requesting support or information about surrendering their cats or dogs.

Some 73 pets had arrived at an RSPCA-run shelter across Victoria during the three-month period; 251 more animals were referred to council shelters or local rescue groups.

Throughout 2025, Starting Over Dog Rescue, the organisation where Mogielski volunteers, took in more than 1500 dogs, and about 300 puppies were born to dogs while being fostered.

“Rehoming an animal is often a last resort for many pet owners, and can be incredibly heartbreaking for them … Unfortunately, when families are struggling, their pets are often affected, too,” the RSPCA spokesperson said.

Animal shelters are usually owned by animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA, while pounds are generally operated by a local council – either directly or by a contractor on their behalf. These facilities also care for dogs and cats who are lost, injured or stray.

Other organisations, including Starting Over, do not operate a physical shelter, but volunteers keep animals at their homes until an owner is found.

A facility is authorised to euthanise an animal for a range of reasons including age, unsuitability for sale and being unweaned or orphaned, according to the state government’s code of practice.

Mogielski, who also works in a shelter, said the practice often occurred as a way of managing numbers.

More than 3000 dogs were reported to Animal Welfare Victoria as being euthanised while in a shelter or pound, according to the latest annual data from 2024.

The majority of these deaths were due to behavioral concerns, with the next most common reason being unsuitability for sale.

“It’s a sad reality at this point that that’s where we’re at. Rescues are full. Shelters are full,” Mogielski said.

While Peridot and her litter of pups will now be well cared for by Mogielski until they are ready for adoption, most dogs who are surrendered or abandoned find themselves in a shelter or a pound.

Three of the puppies that were born on Christmas Eve.

And even for successful fosters, the road to a permanent home is a long one.

At six weeks old, Peridot’s puppies will begin to wean from their mother. By eight weeks, they will be able to live independently, and mandatory medical work will be completed before they and their mother are all listed for adoption.

Although only four years old, Peridot will likely find it the most difficult to find a permanent home because adopters tend to seek out younger animals.

But for now, the dogs will stay with Mogielski, who is currently fostering three more adult dogs, and has four of her own.

“We do our best to squeeze them all in,” she said, adding: “It’s worth it in the end. I won’t stop, ever. I enjoy it too much.“

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