JUST nine cats are purring in the enclosure at the Redland Animal Shelter after the pound had a quieter than normal Christmas season.
A council spokesperson said the pound was less busy than normal during the Christmas-New Year period, which was consistent with what had been experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Three dogs came into the shelter's care on New Year's Day and were later reunited with their owners," she said.
A total of 55 animals were adopted in December, and 10 animals have already found new homes this month.
Two peacocks who strayed onto a residential property in Mount Cotton were brought in earlier this month.
"Peacocks are not common, but they were re-claimed by their owners yesterday," she said.
Three guinea fowl and three roosters have also found new homes this week.
In the past the shelter has had a menagerie of birds and animals, including guinea fowl, ducks, geese, chickens and roosters.
The shelter also recently cared for two very friendly pigs, a range of guinea pigs and a long billed Corella.
"While these are not unusual animals, the shelter does not see too many of these species," she said.
The council spokesperson said animal owners surrender their animals for various reasons.
"There does tend to be an influx of kittens during the latter part of the year due to their breeding season. This reinforces the message of desexing your pets, to prevent unwanted litters," she said.
The RSPCA Queensland Wildlife hospital at Wacol reported no easing of numbers during 2020.
At total of 26,476 animals and birds were treated including 709 koalas.
"Our Wacol hospital is by far the busiest in the Southern Hemisphere. At this time of the year the hospital can actually receive over 100 patients a day," said RSPCA Qld spokesperson Michael Beatty.
For more information on desexing and microchipping, go to Redland City Council's website.
For information on lost and found animals or adopting an animal, visit the Redland Animal Shelter page on council's website.