It's a new year and with it brings new hope for animals waiting at the Hunter RSPCA shelter to find their fur-ever home.
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The Rutherford based shelter said it was pleased with the number of people who decided to adopt a new family member over the Christmas.
Hunter RSPCA regional manager Debbie Jagger said the shelter had been able to adopt out a number of animals, and there had been no significant rise in the number of animals returned between December 2018 and 2019.
"We went really well in regards to adoptions," Dr Jaggers said.
"The only challenge for us is the public holidays, we don't have the same number of staff so it can take a little longer in the process.
"However animal adoptions were pretty well spread over the month."
Over the festive period in December, the shelter helped a number of animals find their fur-ever homes including 29 dogs, 30 cats, 45 kittens, 10 puppies and even one pig.
The Mercury visited the Rutherford-based shelter to meet the 'long termers' who have been in residence for longer than usual.
These patient residents included Diva the Greyhound who was in care at the shelter for more than 150 days and Ginny the cat who was at the shelter for more than 75 days.
In a happy ending, they have both since been taken by new families.
However, Freya the horse - pictured - is still searching for her place in the paddock.
The 20-year-old mare has been in care for more than 450 days.
She is described as a sweet girl with good manners, though her riding days are behind her.
"Horses can be a little more difficult to find homes," Dr Jaggers added.
But Freya isn't the only feathered or furry friend searching for its purr-fect family.
Dr Jaggers said people should check the RSPCA website for new additions with the shelter recently completing a desexing drive for some of their furry residents.
"We are doing a double desexing drive so there will be a lot more animals recovered and available," Dr Jaggers said.
"We usually have a lot of people coming through during the school holidays.
"It's a great time for people to adopt because animals take a bit of time to settle in but also spend time with the kids."
The shelter is located at 6-10 Burlington Place (corner Racecourse Road), Rutherford and is open from 9.30am to 3.30pm every day except Tuesdays.
For more information, contact 4939 1555.
To see all the pets available for adoption at the RSPCA, visit adoptapet.com.au.