Over the past four weeks, pet rescuers in Wagga say they have been overwhelmed with animals in dire need.
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"Last year we had a quarter of what we've had this year," said Belinda Oakman, founder of Bootitfulpets Animal Rescue in Wagga.
Ms Oakman has been re-homing animals for the past four years but never has she been busier than in the past five months.
"This year we've taken on 40 kittens and that's not including the mummas that are pregnant. There's been an influx of cats. We've re-homed about 30 this year already. Last year [at this time] it was about 10."
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Over the years, Emma Perry estimates she's re-homed 72 kittens and 30 dogs. But this year has stretched her.
"We might get one or two that have been abused coming in at the same time, but we've had four this week, just one after the other," Ms Perry said.
"I think people think [the animals] are a novelty and then that novelty wears off when they wee and poo and they chew or scratch if they're not trained properly. Having an animal takes time."
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Currently, in her care at her Lake Albert home, Ms Perry has taken custody of four abused kittens in the past week.
One such kitten is 10-week-old Mazie, who last week underwent a leg amputation after she was stomped on.
"It probably happened about three weeks ago. Her muscles have grown over it so it would have been more discomfort for her to be in a cast. It was too bad a break," Ms Perry said.
Mazie's vet bill has so far come to about $2000, which is a sum Ms Perry cannot afford on her own. With the help of Ms Oakman and Leanne Rea at Wagga Poundies, Ms Perry is looking to fundraise for Mazie's needs.
Details to donate can be found on the Wagga Poundies and Friends Needing Help Facebook page.
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