RSPCA ACT has a consistent downturn in domestic animals arriving at the shelter but a predicted influx of roosters is likely to increase pressure on resources.
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Last year 4389 domestic animals were taken to the centre, nine per cent less than in 2012 and consistent with the previous three years.
Dogs and cats had excellent return and rehousing rates, with 93.5 per cent of dogs and puppies reclaimed by their owners or re-housed and 82 per cent of non-feral cats and kittens returning home or finding a new one.
RSPCA ACT acting chief executive Jane Gregor said there had been a particularly significant decrease in kittens coming through the centre thanks to increased de-sexing and foster care.
About 500 kittens were fostered during the last 12 months.
“Foster care has been working brilliantly and keeping the number of animals in the centre lower, which helps with disease control. It's a better environment for the kitten and more suitable to their future homes,” she said.
However, RSPCA ACT staff expect an influx of roosters during February and March due to the advertising of day-old chicks in the territory.
Ms Gregor said the issue had worsened during the last few years as families decided to keep free-range chickens in their backyards.
Although avoiding cage eggs was a good thing, many of the chicks purchased would not grow into hens.
“During the holidays and into the start of 2014, hundreds of chicks are taken home with the hope that they will be good layers and provide families with fresh eggs. The reality is that half of them will be roosters," she said.
"It takes a few months before you say, 'wait, I think this is a rooster'."
Although roosters could be kept in suburban areas if there were no complaints, most would be unwanted.
“Those that are brought to RSPCA ACT are stretching our resources. They are almost impossible to rehome,” Ms Gregor said.
Overall, 63 per cent of other domestic animals including poultry, other birds, Guinea pigs, rabbits, rodents, reptiles, ferrets and fish were reclaimed or rehoused, with 12 per cent less taken to the RSPCA last year than in 2012.
Unlike domestic animals, there was a 10.5 per cent increase in the number of wildlife arriving at the shelter last year, mainly due to car accidents, orphaned young, animal attacks and disease.
Ms Gregor said incoming wildlife factors were fairly consistent with previous years, although the number of king parrots at the centre fluctuated according to migration patterns.
"The majority of king parrots coming through are quite sick. We can stem that down to people putting out seed trays for communal feeding. Birds can leave droppings in the trays and can pass on diseases to the next bird that eats the seeds."
But the most unusual case of the year was a platypus found hanging three quarters of the way up the Cotter Dam wall in March.
“We have no idea how he got there – the workers were certainly making up some good stories about it,” Ms Gregor said.
“There were no injuries and we released him a few days later.”