Rehoming Policy
Animal Welfare League NSW is committed to achieving zero euthanasia of healthy and treatable cats and dog within the community.
We’ve made great progress towards this goal since joining ‘Getting to Zero’ in August 2011 by significantly increasing adoption rates and reducing euthanasia rates. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our staff, volunteers and branches we have been able to give more abandoned animals a second chance.
We do our very best to find every animal the home they deserve. Sadly, in some cases where animals are suffering untreatable health conditions or serious behavioural issues, euthanasia is carried out. We have professional and qualified veterinary and behaviour teams that provide thorough health checks and behavioural temperament tests for animals in our care, to ensure these decisions are made with great care.
We also utilise a multi-faceted approach that gives each animal every chance of finding a forever home – including rehoming through our shelters, our network of regional branches, volunteer foster carers, working with rescue groups, vet clinics and pet shop rehoming partners. Plus provide Behavioural Modification Plans to help rehabilitate animals where needed.
We will continue to strive to further reduce our euthanasia rates and to educate the community about the need for responsible pet ownership. We are determined to pave the way forward in reducing the unnecessary euthanasia of cats and dogs simply because they are homeless.
Getting to Zero
Animal Welfare League NSW is proud to be associated with ‘Getting to Zero’. The Getting to Zero model details the principles, structures and strategies for achieving zero killing of healthy and treatable cats and dogs in local communities. Getting to Zero aims to increase responsibility for companion animals so that every city and shire can achieve zero euthanasia of all healthy and treatable cats and dogs.
The principles of Getting to Zero are:
- Each community takes responsibility for saving its own abandoned animals.
Animal owners, breeders, pet shops, vets, dog trainers, governments, animal shelters, rescue groups, wildlife groups, teachers, students and community groups all contribute to prevent abandonment and save lives.
- 90% of animals are saveable
Saving 90% of all incoming animals in a community is achievable. 90% represents the number of cats and dogs that are healthy and treatable
- Save healthy and treatable animals
All cats and dogs are equally deserving of our utmost efforts to preserve and enhance their lives.
So adopt an animal!
Only those animals that are irremediably suffering, have extreme behavioural problems or have a poor prognosis for rehabilitation should be euthanised.