Lost Dogs’ Home staff abused as demand for pets reaches record high

Lonely Victorians desperate for companionship during lockdown are verbally abusing volunteers at Melbourne’s Lost Dogs Home.

Demand for four-legged companions is nearly outstripping supply during Melbourne’s sixth lockdown, with a record 416 animals were adopted from the Lost Dogs’ Home in August.

It’s the biggest monthly number of animals rehomed by the shelter about a decade.

But as a growing number of people seek companionship, some are growing frustrated with the process.

Suzana Talevski from the Lost Dogs Home says volunteers are doing their best to find vulnerable animals their forever families.

She says they’re “making sure that people are adopting for the right reasons”.

“We’re not sorry for doing our stringent tests to make sure our animals go home to the right people,” Ms Talevski told Ross and Russel.

“We understand completely the frustration that people are going through at the moment. There’s a lot of angst in the community … but that’s no excuse to then take any frustrations out on our staff.

“We’re doing the best we can.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about the record-breaking demand for pets