Brimbank Council has made changes to its cat trapping services due to a critical, nationwide shortage of vaccines.
Until further notice, Council has suspended its cat trapping services in order to reduce the number of cats being sent to animal shelters and the need for vaccinations to place them into new homes.
The mandatory vaccines are administered to cats to protect against respiratory viral disease and Feline Panleukopenia.
If residents can no longer take care of their cats they are encouraged to:
- Avoid setting them loose in the community to fend for themselves
- Seek support from friends or family members to help take care of your cat or buy pet food
- Contact local animal rescue groups or organisations for help if struggling to afford the cost of pet food.
If you still need to surrender your cat to a rescue shelter, bring in your cat’s vaccination certificate if you have one to avoid duplicate vaccines being administered that further reduce limited supplies.
Other residents are encouraged to:
- Adopt a cat from an animal shelter
- Make a donation to a local animal rescue group
- Check in with family or friends who have pets and are struggling with the cost of living to offer your help.
Brimbank Council remains committed to animal welfare and will monitor the vaccine supply situation closely and respond to the situation as it unfolds.
