The operators of Blossoms Rescue have vowed to keep their doors open but be more cautious about cat owners whose pets they re-home.
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Their comments come after tempers flared on social media around the ownership of a pregnant, unmicrochipped cat, which had been picked up from the street and taken to their shelter.
Following the public spat, Blossoms posted it would no longer be able to help as many of the furry little animals.
“The constant lies and abuse that is spread over social media about Blossoms is simply becoming too much to deal with given that we both work jobs of a night as well as run the rescue every spare second we get,” the post said.
“There is only so much that we can take from people and we are both at our limit, we are running on empty emotionally and people don't seem to see that we are just [two] people who have given our lives to advocate for the most innocent of beings as they have no voice to do it themselves.”
Blossoms’ Bec Ferguson told the Central Western Daily the charity would continue to operate.
“We’re going to be a lot more careful about who we help and how we help,” she said.
Mrs Ferguson said the organisation would meet with the complainant to resolve the issue and return the cat.
With several commenters on the Facebook thread indicating they also owned unregistered cats, Mrs Ferguson said it was a problem.
“It’s the law, they have to microchipped,” she said.
“If we get one with a microchip, it’s returned straight away.
“They are aware, I think people just don’t want to take responsibility.”
Mrs Ferguson said vets could microchip.
If a pet ends up at the pound, the owner is charged $55 for a desexed animal and $201 for a non-desexed animal for its release.
But if the pet is not registered, the owner is charged an extra $60.