LETTER: Blessed are the pet volunteers

THE Hunter is blessed to be home to a network of volunteer groups working to rehome pets deemed surplus by  society.

Hunter Animal Rescue, Dog Rescue Newcastle, Newcastle Pound Pooch etc help to reduce kill rates at local council pounds to a mere fraction of that of the large, better-known and better-funded animal welfare organisations.

Spare a thought this holiday period for the dedicated foster carers and volunteers who are the backbone of these organisations, whose homes are often overflowing this time of year dealing with the usual Christmas surge in strays and surrenders from the local pounds, and who cover while other volunteers are on holidays.

Or – better still – volunteer. As the saying goes, ‘‘A pet is for life not for Christmas’’, but fostering over the summer holidays is a great chance to experience the joy that a cat or dog can bring to your household, even if travel or work commitments the rest of the year mean you cannot commit to a full-time pet of your own.

Plus it’s a great feeling to know that you have helped save a life.

Geoff Davidson,

Ourimbah