Stopping the cycle of unwanted litters

ELIGIBLE cat owners in Heathcote can apply to have their pets desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and registered at a substantially discounted rate.

Bendigo Animal Relief Centre (BARC) is targeting Heathcote, California Gully, Kangaroo Flat, Golden Square and Eaglehawk to help reduce numbers of unwanted litters across Greater Bendigo.

The five areas have been identified as having the highest numbers of non-desexed cats.

Residents with a concession card or those experiencing financial hardship are eligible.

Eighteen cats were desexed in one day at BARC recently which will result in fewer unwanted litters and healthier cats across the region.

BARC offers multiple community cat desexing programs, each with different eligibility criteria.

Anyone caring for a cat that either lives in their house as part of a family, or in their yard as a community cat is urged to reach out to staff at BARC to find out more about the programs.

Residents can contact BARC by emailing [email protected], calling 54412209, or complete a cat desexing application on the website at bendigoanimalreliefcentre.com.au.

BARC is the animal pound service for the City of Greater Bendigo at 20 Piper Lane, Bendigo.

The centre opened in 2019, and provides housing, care, and medical treatment to more than 2000 animals annually.

BARC aims to reunite missing animals with owners and has cats and dogs that have been microchipped, wormed, desexed and vaccinated available for adoption.