number of animals in need of a home

got many of them six months on.”

To help reduce unwanted kitten and puppy litters, FoP offers a subsidised desexing program to Tweed residents who hold a Centrelink Pension Card or are on an income of less than $50,000 per year.

Volunteers from FoP intervened, and with the owners’ permission, took the pregnant cats to provide them with further care.

They also took some of the other cats to be desexed.

Mrs Trichter said unfortunately there were people in the community housing for families and landlords could be more lenient and allow pets on tenancy lease agreements.

Friends of the Pound rescue animals from the Tweed Shire Pound but are independently run and rely solely on donations and fundraising efforts.

Mrs Trichter said FoP hopes to have its own rehoming centre in the future, but in the meantime, it desperately tries to juggle a large number of animals between foster cares.

“We’re working our way through the surrender list, we’re managing it, but it’s not a happy situation.

“We had 269 kittens alone come into our care last year and we’ve still

Mrs Trichter said desexing animals was the main way forward to curb the number of homeless animals.

“The amount of kittens we have is just the tip of the iceberg.

“I visited a couple in Tweed Heads who had 13 undesexed cats.

“Four of them were pregnant and each of them had litters of about 5 - 6 kittens … and it just goes on and on.” who think it’s ok to let their pets breed out of control.

It not only creates problems with inbreeding but fuels the surplus of animals.

To help free up space at FoP, Mrs Trichter is hopeful people, who have the means, are willing to adopt a cat or a dog.

She also said the government needed to supply more affordable

They have a Pet Adoption & Preloved Clothing Centre at 17/39-41 Corporation Circuit Tweed Heads South.

And, a Cat Adoption Centre on 1/29A Prospero Street, Murwillumbah.

If you are interested in adopting, fostering, donating or volunteering with Friends of the Pound please visit: friendsofthepound.com/