It’s the Orange RSPCA shelter manager’s job to decide which animals are euthanised to make room for the hundreds of new arrivals dumped at the William Street facility each month.

The shelter is so packed puppies are being housed on the floor of the catteries.

Even the boarding kennels are being used to accommodate the increasing numbers of dogs and cats needing a home.

If the boarding kennels remain closed the organisation will lose $50,000 income each year.

“If we all worked together and took responsibility for the animals in our own backyards we wouldn’t be in this situation,” Mrs Chapman said yesterday.

“It’s hard to get the community to understand that every litter counts.

“It all adds to the numbers that come through the shelter and have to be put to sleep.”

Space for expected new arrivals on the weekend will only be made available by euthanising others.

The shelter was “over-run” with nearly 100 cats and kittens yesterday alone.

They sell around 15 a month but have more than 1500 a year coming in.

Dozens of young dogs, most likely Christmas presents, fill the shelter’s 44 kennels.

In one day alone Mrs Chapman had 44 kelpies seeking new owners.

“They may have found homes when they were pups or kittens but are they still in that home six months later?” she asked.

“It’s all so unnecessary and frustrating because it’s simple to solve.

“If you don’t want a pet for life, do not get one.”

Sixty thousand animals are euthanised each year in NSW.

“I’m led to believe Orange has one of the worst records regarding impounding animals per head of population,” Orange councillor Neil Jones said.

Mrs Chapman and Cr Jones both urged people to take the time before buying an animal to consider the responsibilities of pet ownership.

They also urged people to have their pets desexed.