Animal shelters are overflowing as widespread flood damage forces many Queensland pet owners to surrender their furry friends.
Soquilichi Rescue Ranch owner Miranda Wells said the public had been abandoning kittens in droves because of damage and disruption that meant their housing arrangements were no longer suitable for animals.
Ms Wells told the ABC on Sunday that her no-kill shelter at Yandina on the Sunshine Coast had been overrun by kittens in small crates, with the charity taking in more than 80 cats and kittens in just 48 hours.
“It’s raining kittens, they’re dropping from the sky,” Ms Wells said.
She said urgent help was needed to ease the burden on animal pounds that had no choice but to euthanise the animals to make room.
“Rural pounds from QLD to NSW are absolutely overflowing and with no choices left but to euthanise all cats and kittens,” Ms Wells wrote.
“This isn’t the fault of the pound. They can only hold so many and they don’t create this unwanted mess.
“The flood is causing this. People are abandoning kittens in droves and we have to step in.”
More than 17,000 houses across the region have been assessed for damage after the floods tore through, leaving a trail of heartbreaking stories.
Gympie resident Chris Warner told the ABC that he was forced to give up his beloved dog after he lost his home.
The pensioner said he had no choice but to surrender his pet due to housing restrictions.
“I’ve had him (dog) for seven years since he was a mistreated pup, basically skin and bone, and we just made friends,” he told the ABC.
As the flood clean-up began, Ms Wells launched a campaign to raise at least $10,000 and prevent 60 kittens from being put to sleep.
The fundraiser sits at $3640.
xjmtzywMoney will go straight to desexing, microchipping, vet bills and food and transport.
“We need your help to perform a miracle. We know how tough it is out there as everyone battles (the floods), but lives are at stake tonight,” she said.
