Veterinarian at Berry Vet Clinic, and star in the television series Village Vets, Dr Anthony Bennett will be a judge for the Companion Animal Rescue Awards.
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The awards celebrate and recognise achievements in the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of companion animals in Australia.
The 2019 Jetpets Companion Animal Rescue Awards were launched on April 10 among rescue felines at the Cat Protection Society of NSW shelter in Sydney.
A new category, innovation, has been added to the awards for 2019.
"The main thing we are looking for is innovative solutions for issues that have been problems for awhile," Dr Bennett said.
The Rescue Awards showcase excellence and innovation in rescue.
Dr Bennett said animal rescue was close to his heart.
"We do a lot of voluntary work [at the Berry vet clinic]," he said.
"A lot of the work we do is free or heavily discounted."
Dr Bennett said he was currently helping a dog named Forrest who was born without front legs.
The clinic is in the process of having wheels made and shipped from America for the dachshund to use.
The committed vet said 186,000 animals per year were surrendered in Australia with 1,000 re-homing organisations Australia-wide.
"The number one reason animals are surrendered is because of behavioral issues from not being socialised properly," Dr Bennett said.
"[It is important to] choose a pet that suits your lifestyle and ensure it is well socialised from an early age."
He said the classic example was when people who lived a sedentary lifestyle adopted active dogs, or when people who live in suburbia chose a dog that was bred to guard, and then experienced barking problems.
"It's what the dog was bred for," Dr Bennett said.
The vet stressed the need to conduct research before purchasing a new pet.