Sydney’s Blacktown pound overrun with missing cats and dogs waiting to be claimed by their owners

Hundreds of Aussies have been left heartbroken after seeing images of dozens of lost animals in a ‘hot and overcrowded’ shelter. 

Sydney’s Blacktown City Animal Holding Facility has been inundated with more than 30 missing dogs as well as cats and rabbits as shelters across the city experience an influx of lost, abandoned and surrendered animals.  

Animal lovers shared their sympathies as rescue groups are circulating images of the impounded pets online in hopes they can be claimed by their owners. 

Blacktown City Animal Holding Facility in Sydney is appealing to residents to pick up their missing pets who are being held in a ‘hot and overcrowded’ pound

‘Is your beloved family member sitting in this hot, overcrowded pound? If so, then please do the right thing by your beautiful faithful friend and take them back home where they belong,’ a post to the Rescue Hub Facebook Group read. 

‘They are puppies in here and eight poor senior’s. A pound is no place for any dog let alone a puppy or an old dog.’ 

The post included photos of the each of the abandoned pooches along with details about their ages, breed, colour, appearance and whether or not they had been de-sexed.

Animal lovers shared their sympathies as rescue groups are circulating images of the impounded pets online in hopes they can be claimed by their owners 

‘Is your beloved family member sitting in this hot, overcrowded pound? If so, then please do the right thing by your beautiful faithful friend and take them back home where they belong,’ a post to the Rescue Hub Facebook Group read

Rescue Hub also reminded users the animals were not up for adoption but waiting to be reunited with their owners. 

Residents were left devastated by the post and slammed ‘neglectful’ pet owners for not claiming their animals.  

‘This is absolutely appalling and heartbreaking, how can so many people not care where their dog is???’ one woman asked. 

‘Hope they’re not all unwanted,’ another added. 

‘Somehow people think pets are like toys and they dispose of them when they bored. So so sad and cruel,’ a third wrote. 

The post included photos of the each of the abandoned pooches along with details about their ages, breed, colour, appearance and whether or not they had been de-sexed

Residents were left devastated by the post and slammed ‘neglectful’ pet owners for not claiming their animals

Many people were angered that the majority of the animals had not been spayed or neutered. 

‘Can’t believe most of these dogs found are not de-sexed,’ one person pointed out. 

‘Horrible to see so many neglected pets….vast majority not even de-sexed!’ commented a second. 

‘Needs to be law that they’re de-sexed before being returned – no exceptions,’ another complained. 

Some animals have since been reunited with their owners but many remain in the holding facility. 

Some animals have since been reunited with their owners but many remain the in holding facility

A Blacktown City Council spokesperson told FEMAIL the facility is experiencing a significant increase in surrendered or abandoned pets and rangers have observed a rise in the number stray pets being brought in. 

‘While the reasons for this trend are not fully known, it is possible that households are under increased financial pressures, which is leading in a spike in pet surrenders,’ they said. 

‘The RSPCA has also reported an extension in the cat breeding season this year, resulting in a greater number of kittens being born.’

The council held a forum earlier this year and is working with local vets to address this overload.

‘Council is also exploring ways to increase and provide more support for pet foster carers, as well as raising community awareness on the importance of pet de-sexing,’ they said.