Overview
Last year, when New South Wales went into lockdown, plenty of folks wanted a furry, four-legged friend by their sides. The RSPCA understood that yearning for a new adorable pet and, to find permanent homes for pups, cats, bunnies and guinea pigs surrendered into its care, it launched a completely online adoption process. Kicking off in April 2020, it helped 2655 animals get adopted across the state.
Now that the Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour regions have been in lockdown again for three weeks so far, and will remain under stay-at-home conditions for at least another fortnight, RSPCA NSW is bringing back its online adoptions. It's also calling out to the community again to help look after its many animals during this tough period. So, if you've been thinking about adding a pet to your fam (and have considered it thoroughly), now might just be the time.
At the Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra shelters and care centres, the RSPCA's 'Adopt from Home' system is now back up and running. The entire adoption process is conducted over the phone or video call and, once approved, your new pet is transported to your house for a (socially distanced) meet-and-greet. Rest assured, too, that the usual procedures and standards still apply, so every animal will end up in a happy new forever home.
To welcome in a new family member, you must fill out the online form, and then the RSPCA NSW will be in touch to arrange a time for the process to take place via phone or video call. You will need to live within a 45-minute drive of the shelter that you're adopting from, too, and you'll have to pay an extra $55 for the at-home adoption, on top of the usual fee.
If you're thinking about adopting, you can check out all the good boys, kittens, bunnies and birds looking for new homes in NSW.
For details about adopting animals, head to the RSPCA NSW website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.