PETstock Balcatta store manager Zina Lulic and John Bishop with Cocoa ahead of National Pet Adoption Day on Saturday, February 9
Camera IconPETstock Balcatta store manager Zina Lulic and John Bishop with Cocoa ahead of National Pet Adoption Day on Saturday, February 9 Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie www.communitypix.com.au

Perth: Furry friends looking for a family on National Pet Adoption Day

Jessica WarrinerStirling Times

ALL creatures great and small are set to put their best paw forward to find a family this February.

The fifth annual National Pet Adoption Day is aiming to rehome 1000 animals across the country.

The joint initiative is run by PETstock and adoption site PetRescue, with PetRescue co-founder John Bishop urging people to look at the individual personalities of pets.

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“Cocoa came from the pound about six and a half years ago, she was adopted by my partner in Sydney,” he said.

“She’s one of the dogs that can be misidentified as aggressive and scary, but all she wants to do is cuddle up to you.”

This year’s campaign is focusing on looking beyond the breed, with all breed labels to be removed on the PetRescue website in the week leading up to National Pet Adoption Day.

Mr Bishop said around 200,000 pets remain unclaimed in Australian pounds every year.

“Rescue pets are a great alternative – more often than not they’re juveniles or adults, and you can see their personality by then,” he said.

Fellow co-founder Vickie Davy said there was a pet to suit every lifestyle.

“Not all cute fluffy dogs are great with kids, and overlooking a big boofy dog who loves children and naps may mean you miss out on the perfect family dog,” she said.

National Pet Adoption Day is coming up on Saturday, February 9 at PETstock stores across Perth.