Looking for the purrrfect pet, Morwell’s Maryanne Delost found a forever friend while visiting Latrobe City Council Pound late last year.
“I wanted to give a cat a good home and to rescue one just felt like the right thing to do.”
Maryanne could have chosen any of the fluffy little kittens or graceful mature cats surrendered for adoption, but she fell in love with a beat-up tom cat.
Typically such cats are difficult to adopt out as they can appear quite aggressive looking and scrappy due to their scars.
“I’d been calling into the pound over a few weeks and had put my name down for a couple (of cats) but missed out,” Maryanne explained.
It was during the last of these visits that Maryanne met Smokey.
“He just kept meowing at me,” Maryanne said, “so I asked if I could hold him.”
As they retrieved Smokey from his cage staff told Maryanne that he’d just became available for adoption as the family originally registered to take him home changed their mind.
“When I held him he put his arms around my neck as if to say ‘don’t let me go’,” Maryanne said.
“He had a few battle scars on him but I just knew I wanted him.”
In the market for a cat that would be able to stand up to her dogs, Maryanne struck gold with Smokey.
“When I got him home he didn’t give two hoots about the dogs and stood his ground,” Maryanne said, explaining that they now all happily slept beside her on her bed at night.
“I wouldn’t be without him now.” Unclaimed animals are usually available for adoption eight days after they are initially impounded.
Prospective owners are encouraged to visit the pound to become acquainted with available pets.
As of December 2017 customers wanting to adopt, or pay pound releases, can do so at the pound – EFTPOS only – during pound operation hours.
For all other times, or if paying in cash, payments must be completed at Latrobe City Service Centres or Libraries in Moe, Morwell, Traralgon and Churchill.