Mount Gambier’s South East Animal Welfare League temporarily closed its doors to the general public last week due to the number of dogs at the league.

South East Animal Welfare League Operations Coordinator Marica Perkovic said the league was giving priority to the high number of animals in their care and would open only by appointment for adoptions and pound releases.

“We have had a high number of surrenders, a high number of people not picking up council dogs that are un-microchipped and we have had emergency care,” Ms Perkovic said.

“Volunteers have been off sick and things like that so there’s just not enough people to look after all the animals and attend to people just coming out to visit.

“It’s just too much, you just cannot physically to a high standard of care do all that when you have got other distractions so we just had to do it.

“We’ll open up again soon though because we have had a whole bunch of adoptions so we have halved our dog numbers, it’s great.”

Ms Perkovic said the increased number of surrenders was predominantly due to people who purchased pets as companions during the COVID-19 pandemic and housing issues.

“A lot of it is to do with COVID companions and now that’s over people are surrendering,” she said.

“Housing’s a big one, they have either had an animal and they’re moving and the rental does not accept pets or people are downsizing where they live, coming into town or a smaller property and the dog’s not happy where they are.”

Ms Perkovic emphasised the importance of microchipping and desexing cats and dogs and urged people to do this.