ISSUE #11 | SEPTEMBER 2016
He was all alone, but you saved him
Thank you. You are the reason Tuck survived
As winter came, you brought joy You helped animals in crisis Your donations will care for kittens
Tuck was rushed to an RSPCA NSW shelter in an Animal Ambulance with catastrophic injuries. At just a year old, this sweet, loving cat had been hit by a train and left to fight for his life. His future hung in the balance. Only you could save him and nurse this helpless feline back to health. RSPCA NSW received an urgent call about a cat lying near the train tracks. His condition was life-threatening and without immediate help, RSPCA NSW staff knew he would die. It’s times like these when RSPCA NSW is so grateful for your belief that animals matter. Because of you, an Animal Ambulance could immediately drive out to bring the cat into care. If you hadn’t been there, he never would have survived. When the ambulance staff found him, they were shocked at how badly hurt he was. His right back leg and tail were mangled beyond recognition. But despite these appalling injuries, his affectionate personality shone through the pain. The Animal Ambulance rushed him back to the Sydney Veterinary Hospital, knowing
there wasn’t a minute to lose. And once there, your support meant RSPCA NSW veterinarians could work tirelessly to keep him alive. Sadly, his injuries were so severe, his leg and most of his tail had to be amputated. It was a huge operation, but it saved his life, and you made it possible. You also kept him healthy and safe as he recovered. You gave him medication to stop his pain, and food to give him strength. With his new name – Tuck, he began to adapt to life with three legs. Tuck’s smoochy manner quickly won over the hearts of everyone at the shelter. With your support, he healed amazingly from his injuries, and has now found his forever family. It’s such a happy ending for this incredible cat, and it’s all because of you. Thank you so much for saving Tuck – without you, he simply wouldn’t be here.
Tuck defied the odds, and made it through alive and well. But he couldn’t have done it without you.
Without you, Wombat wouldn’t be here. But thanks to your support of the Foster Care program, he’s grown and thrived.
You were there when all seemed lost Wombat, an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was just two weeks old when an RSPCA NSW Animal Ambulance brought him into the shelter. His leg was broken, and his owners couldn’t afford the surgery needed to fix it. Instead, they had to abandon him. He was helpless and he was all alone in the world. You can only imagine how frightened he must have felt. It was only because of you that this tiny pup could be given hope and a fresh new start. You gave him life-saving, orthopaedic surgery and round-the-clock care. Without this, he wouldn’t be here today. It was a difficult recovery for such a young dog. His splint had to stay on for eight weeks to help reduce the risk of him needing further surgery. And for some time, there was still the threat he could lose his leg. But with you by his side, aiding his journey, brave Wombat pulled through. But your support didn’t end there. You also ensured little Wombat could be cared for through RSPCA NSW’s Foster Care program. From warm
bedding to toys and treats, your donations provided this tiny puppy with everything he needed to recover. Aided by you, and his foster mum, Elysse, he grew into a confident, energetic and playful pup. His inquisitive nature shone through, and he even made a trip to Sydney’s Martin Place to meet the city’s firefighters and support Cupcake Day for the RSPCA! It wasn’t long until beautiful Wombat found a wonderful forever home with a loving family. He’s now happily snuggled up with them. But none of this would have been possible without your unbelievable generosity, so thank you.
You wrapped them in kindness when they needed you the most. Thank you for mending their broken hearts.
You gave them hope during the long, cold months Over winter, RSPCA NSW reached out to you to help us as temperatures fell. We were overwhelmed by your incredible compassion, and our animals couldn’t be more grateful. You kept their bodies warm and their minds active as they waited for new families to come and take them home. You paid for medication to nurse the sick back to health. And you kept our facilities’ dryers spinning so the animals could be wrapped up, safe and snug in clean, cosy blankets. RSPCA NSW animals wouldn’t have survived winter without you. One of the animals you may remember reading about is big dog Rori. This beautiful nine-year-old pooch faced unbearable hardship as, through no fault of her own, she was abandoned not
just once, but twice. Animal lovers like you will know it just had to be third time lucky for this wonderful dog. Luckily for Rori, your belief in the cause shone through the cold. And while she waited for her perfect forever family to arrive, you ensured Rori was kept happy, safe and warm. It was such a joyful day at the shelter when she finally found the happy ending she’d been looking for, and it was all because of you. Now renamed Rocky, she’s happy and safe with a family who adores her, and is loving life in her new home. Thank you for saving her.
During times of extreme hardship, you have shown homeless people and their pets kindness, and brought them much-needed relief.
Your life-saving impact on homeless pets For pet owners living on the streets, their beloved animals may be all they have left in the world. More than anything, RSPCA NSW wants to keep pets and their people safe, well and together. That’s why, thanks to your kind-heartedness, RSPCA NSW joins together with a number of organisations to offer assistance to people experiencing homelessness or sleeping rough. In the Penrith area, your donations help fund these services around four times a year. And they make a momentous difference to people and their pets in need. RSPCA NSW’s most recent visit was to Penrith Homeless Hub at The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre. Your donations meant RSPCA NSW could give out an incredible 50 kilograms of food, along with food and water bowls, plus collars and leads for dogs. It also meant RSPCA NSW could chat with around 40 pet owners to give them advice about their much-loved animals, and help them form action plans for their futures. Your compassionate contributions also paid for vital pet care, helping not just the animals themselves, but also relieving the anxiety of their owners. RSPCA NSW also teamed up with Coreen Avenue Vets to arrange dental checks, desexing services, health checks and vaccinations. All of this was made possible because of your unbelievable generosity. It had such an incredible impact on the wellbeing of the animals and their owners, and helped safeguard their futures, so thank you. If you’d like to find out more about how your money makes a life-saving difference people and their pets experiencing homelessness, please click here.
You changed the lives of pets and their owners When you support RSPCA NSW, you’re not only helping animals – you’re also bringing assistance and guidance to pet owners in need. Your contributions are paramount in allowing RSPCA NSW to provide our community support programs, which bring critical help to pets and their owners across the state. One of the programs you kindly support is RSPCA NSW’s Community Animal Welfare Scheme (CAWS), which provides subsidised animal desexing services in regional and remote areas of NSW. Without you, this vital program simply wouldn’t exist. Your contributions mean that, together, we can reduce the number of unwanted litters, and therefore the number of euthanised animals in pounds and shelters. One of CAWS’ most recent desexing drives was held at the Airds Bradbury Community Centre. RSPCA NSW staff, along with 20 fourth year veterinarian students from the University of Sydney and staff from Campbelltown City Council all went along to speak to people in the community. An incredible 50 animals were booked in to be desexed. What’s more, thanks to you, the animals could also be microchipped, and the dogs vaccinated. It’s a fantastic
outcome – one which has safeguarded the futures of so many animals in the community. And it’s all down to you, our amazing supporters. You’ve done so much for the animals and pet owners in the Campbelltown area. In fact, in just four years, you have helped desex more than 1,000 animals. Without this important service, tens of thousands of animals could have been born who may have suffered abandonment, disease and neglect. Every animal you assisted belonged to an owner who wouldn’t be able to afford this procedure otherwise. Your impact has been momentous, with positive results for the entire community, so thank you. Would you like to know more about the impact your donations have on pets in communities across New South Wales? Please click here to find out more.
Caring for vulnerable kittens in their time of need Spring has sprung, but the warmer weather doesn’t just bring barbeques and sunshine: it also means the pitter-patter of tiny kitten paws. It’s times like these when RSPCA NSW is so grateful to have you, our wonderful supporters. We know our facilities will be inundated with thousands of abandoned kittens in need of enrichment, food, medication and shelter. But thanks to your dedication to the cause, these tiny felines can be properly cared for, and given the love and attention they need until they’re ready to go to their forever homes. Your donations will also support RSPCA NSW’s Foster Care program, ensuring the smallest and most vulnerable kittens can be looked after until they grow big and strong enough to be adopted. RSPCA NSW is always on the lookout for foster carers, so if you’re able to open up your heart and home to kittens in need, please email fostercare@rspcansw.org.au.
Ask our experts Do you have a question about your much-loved pet? Email your queries to donations@rspcansw.org.au and we’ll feature one in the next Animals Action Report. Remember, if it’s an emergency, you should always contact your veterinarian.
Your donations make a world of difference RSPCA NSW animals are always in need of toys and supplies, and your contributions have an enormous impact on their mental and physical wellbeing. By purchasing a Kong toy for a shelter animal, you will keep a cat or dog entertained and happy. If you’d like to help, you can buy one for a cat by
clicking here, and one for a dog by clicking here. They’d also love peanut butter and vegemite to stuff inside. Thank you.
You saved their lives Your belief in the cause ensured RSPCA NSW veterinary clinics* could provide critical care and life-saving surgeries to animals in need. Thanks to your generosity and kindness, thousands of animals have now found happiness and health.
20,459 consultations 1,557dentals
1,674 surgeries
8,348 desexings
8,222
vaccinations
1,015 X-rays
*Figures from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016, and include shelter animals and pets of private patients. *Eight regional shelters are supported by external veterinary clinics and not included in these numbers.
14,627
animals were rehomed between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016
It is only because of your compassion and support that RSPCA NSW is able to rehome animals through our shelters, Care Centres and our partner, Petbarn. You have secured their futures and transformed their lives, so thank you.
Baking to fight animal cruelty Your incredible fundraising efforts during Cupcake Day for the RSPCA transformed lives throughout the state. Thank you for believing that animals matter. *Figures as of 15 August 2016.
$99,816
raised online
2,539 registrants 615 fundraising pages 500 corporates involved
Breed: Domestic Shorthair crossbreed Age: eight years old Gender: male Handsome Jarvis may be a little quiet when he first meets you, but it won’t take long for him to show you how cuddly and mischievous he can be. He loves sitting in the sunshine, and can’t wait to snuggle up with his new family. Can you give Jarvis a home?
Jarvis
Can you help him? adoptapet.com.au
Breed: Domestic Shorthair crossbreed Age: six years old Gender: male
Jerry
Jerry came to RSPCA NSW because his owner could no longer care for him. This gorgeous feline can be a bit shy at first, but once he gets to know you, he’ll show you unconditional love. If handsome Jerry has won over your heart, please contact the RSPCA NSW Sydney Shelter today.
Can you help him? adoptapet.com.au
Breed: Domestic Shorthair crossbreed Age: 11 years old Gender: female Kitty is an older lady who came into the shelter as a lost cat. Now she’s in desperate need of a loving new home. She still has so much love to give. She also gets on well with other cats, so would make the purrfect companion! Is Kitty the cat for you?
Kitty
Can you help her? adoptapet.com.au
Breed: Domestic Shorthair crossbreed Age: 13 years old Gender: female
Millie
Laidback Millie was surrendered to RSPCA NSW after her family moved house and couldn’t take her with them. This little purr machine is now looking for a new home where she can be an indooronly cat. Have you got room in your heart for this wonderful feline?
Can you help her? adoptapet.com.au
Breed: Domestic Shorthair crossbreed Age: eight years old Gender: female Gorgeous Natasha is a bright little soul who is desperate to find a forever home. She’d make a lovely addition to any household, and just can’t wait to snuggle up with you on the couch. Are you the family this pretty kitty has been looking for?
Natasha
Can you help her? adoptapet.com.au
Breed: Domestic Shorthair crossbreed Age: two years old Gender: female
Taffy
Pretty Taffy came to RSPCA NSW as a stray. Sadly, her old owners never came to collect her, so she’s now looking for a new forever family to keep her happy and safe. She has so much love to give you. Can you give a home to this wonderful, smoochy feline?
Can you help her? adoptapet.com.au
Your generosity changes lives Your belief in the cause ensures RSPCA NSW can care for countless abandoned, injured, neglected and sick animals each year. It is only because of you that we can do this, and give them a second chance at a better life. Thanks to you, RSPCA NSW cared for:
cats and kittens dogs and puppies pocket pets livestock others
Donate and transform their lives.
$15
provides an abandoned cat with a bed, litter tray and toys.
$50
gives an animal recovering from surgery one week of antibiotics.
$150
desexes an abandoned puppy so she can go up for adoption.
$350
subsidises the cost of prosecuting a cruelty offender in court.
Thank you. Your compassion has made a life-changing difference to tens of thousands of animals. rspcansw.org.au