New helpline to slow pet surrenders

STRUGGLING pet owners will now have another resource to turn to for help as RSPCA Victoria launches a free pet behaviour helpline.

The initiative is designed to help owners deal with pet behaviour in an attempt to reduce the number of animals surrendered due to behavioural issues.

RSPCA Victoria head of prevention Rebecca Cook said the helpline aims to keep pets in loving homes.

“There are many animals coming through our door showing signs of anxiety or are clearly undersocialised and don’t know what to do around other animals.

“In the last financial year, owners of roughly 10 per cent of the cats and dogs surrendered to RSPCA Victoria reported some behavioural challenges as a factor in their decision.”

Using the free helpline, Victorians will speak with an experienced member of the animal behaviour team who are offering free consultations for pets experiencing behaviour challenges.

Trainers will also work with the owners to address the drivers of the behaviour and recommend positive reinforcement and other training programs if required.

“It’s not always easy to understand what your pet needs and why it might behave in a certain way, and this can quickly become an extremely stressful situation for any household, so getting the right advice for your family, can be a game changer,” Cook said.

“We’re thrilled to offer this service to all Victorians who might be struggling with their pet’s behaviour as part of our suite of animal welfare support tools.”

The organisation is already seeing success with the program, and since its beginning has helped more than 450 pets.

RSPCA Victoria Animal Behaviourist Emma Wyllie said they have heard some great success stories.

“The most common behavioural challenges we’re seeing are concerns about aggressive or reactive pets, with a lot of people reporting their pet is suffering from separation anxiety.”

Sessions take 20 minutes and for owners with multiple pets, unique sessions are offered to ensure they receive the correct advice.

For more information or to book a free session, head to rspcavic.org