This is a fantastic initiative which has already saved the lives of 54 kittens.
From The Gympie Times:
In Queensland they are four-legged refugees, but in South Australia the same cute and cuddly kittens are in great demand.
RSPCA Queensland spokesperson Michael Beatty says Queensland’s animal shelters have far too many kittens, but the same organisation in South Australia has empty kitten cages and shelter staff forced to turn away disappointed adopters.
With a little help from their friends at PetRescue, Jet Pets and Toll Priority, the two RSPCA operations have worked together to launch Australia’s first flying kitten program – an airlift of cats, unwanted here [in Queensland] but now due to arrive in South Australia this week, on the way to new homes.
Jet Pets’ Scott Williams says the organisation has for two years been helping PetRescue relocate individual animals to new families in order to save their lives.
“However this is the first time a large scale, shelter-to-shelter program has been tried and we’re really keen to lend a hand,” he said.
The RSPCA says it currently has 54 kittens waiting in foster homes in Queensland.
They will now have long and happy lives in South Australia.
PetRescue, a popular internet website focused on animal adoption, has more than 450 rescue organisations listing pets for adoption.
“By building strong relationships between our rescue groups, we hope to see more of this type of initiative,” said PetRescue’s Vickie Davy.
“It’s innovative thinking by shelters dedicated to saving lives that keep pets from becoming statistics.”
It’s a very business minded approach: over”stocked” here, under”stocked” there, move the “stock” so everyone is happy.
It’s great that Jet Pets and Toll Priority have assisted – transporting pets is an expensive and sometimes difficult thing to do.
savvycat x
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There was an air lift a couple of years ago from Townsville to Canberra. I thought the idea of a JetStar flight full of kittens was the cutest thing I had ever heard:) It really is a great idea.
Forever Foster´s last blog post: Problems and Solutions
Forever Foster, I was just reading this out to my husband and saying “but you did it first!” (he works at RSPCA ACT) so it’s nice someone else recalls that too.
I remember my old boss, who doesn’t particularly like cats, jokingly berating me because my husband had imported more cats into Canberra LOL.