ISSUE #10 | JULY 2016
You’re giving hope after cruelty
You brought companionship and joy Photo: The Daily Telegraph
You found them loving homes A letter from our CEO She was in danger, but you saved her
As animal lovers, you will know that animals make us happier and healthier. They transform our lives, bringing happiness to those who are sick or socially isolated, and comforting those in distress. And there’s no better example of this than Teddy, an Irish Wolfhound crossbreed. Teddy came to RSPCA NSW as a stray named Rusty. Your donations gave him food and shelter, and helped him recover from a tough life on the streets. Your kindness also ensured RSPCA NSW could spend one-on-one time with him… and that’s what changed his life forever. Staff soon realised this special dog was super smart and a quick learner: he already knew how to drop, high five and shake paws. His sweet teddy bear demeanour even earned him his new name. It was clear the newly named Teddy was destined for great things. In fact, he was the perfect pet to go to Judith, who has cerebral palsy and lives in a care home. Teddy is actually the second canine friend your support has given Judith – Tyson was her beloved pet for many
long years. When he passed away, he left an enormous hole in her heart, and in the hearts of the other residents at the care facility. But now, thanks to you, she has Teddy. To prepare Teddy for his new home, a veteran dog trainer donated his time to work one-onone with him. Together, they focused on calm behaviour and impeccable manners. This helped ensure Teddy would be highly intuitive to the needs of Judith and the other residents at the care facility. He’s now happily settled in, doing what dogs to best: bringing joy and unconditional love. Teddy’s future could’ve turned out very differently. But because of you, he’s become the best kind of therapy. RSPCA NSW would love to see more companion dogs in aged and disability care facilities across the state. We hope that, with your support, this will be possible.
Your support has brought happiness and the incredible benefits that come with pet ownership
It’s because of your commitment to the cause that the RSPCA NSW Inspectorate can continue rescuing animals in need.
Your donations saved an animal in crisis Whatever precautions you take to protect your much-loved pets and livestock, your animals may still manage to get into trouble. These situations can quickly escalate into life-threatening circumstances, so it’s times like these when your incredible support is appreciated more than ever. One afternoon, RSPCA NSW received an urgent call from a concerned kayaker. A goat was trapped, stuck on a washed out embankment on the Nepean River. With the kind assistance of Camden Council, Inspectors Aaron and Louise cast a boat onto the water so they could locate the goat. When they spotted the Boer crossbreed, they realised she must have fallen down the embankment. The poor goat was unable to climb back herself, as the terrain was extremely steep and she was surrounded by deep water. The area was quite inaccessible to passersby, so the inspectors believed she may have been there for several days. You can imagine how terrified she must have felt! To transport the young doe to safety, the inspectors had to move slowly and quietly, ensuring she didn’t feel pressured or frightened. Initially, the goat was unsure, and tried to make a run for it. But with some clever manoeuvring,
Inspector Louise managed to catch her. And once the goat was safely cradled in the inspector’s arms, she actually seemed relieved, staying calm all the way back to dry land. The doe was taken to the Sydney Shelter, but despite having an ear tag, her owner couldn’t be traced. She’s now been given a new name – Alice, and is awaiting adoption. This life-saving rescue was only made possible with your support. Your generosity enables the RSPCA NSW’s Inspectorate to save animals like Alice who are in perilous situations. Your kindness also means Alice, and animals like her, can receive the care and shelter they need while they wait for their new homes – so thank you. Please, donate today and help to keep our Inspectorate on the road saving the lives of animals just like Alice.
You saved them from neglect and found them loving forever homes Being responsible pet owners, you know how important it is to ensure you can provide the time and attention necessary to keep your much-loved pets happy and healthy. You know too how important it is to get your animals desexed. Sadly, some people don’t. That’s why we’re so grateful to have your help.
Eight Ragdolls were surrendered to RSPCA NSW earlier this year. They belonged to exbreeders, and came from a group of 163 cats. The poor Ragdolls needed extensive veterinary care, including treatment for cat flu and major dental work. Their coats were so matted, staff had no choice but to shave them. But with your generous assistance, a huge team of RSPCA NSW inspectors, veterinarians, veterinary nurses
Have you adopted an animal from an RSPCA NSW shelter? There’s nothing we love more than getting updates on the animals who have passed through our doors, and hearing about how your forever friends have changed your lives. Send us your adoption pictures and stories by emailing donations@rspcansw.org.au.
and local council rangers could be there to help. And thanks to your contributions, they grew stronger, healthier and fluffy once more. With this tough start to life, it was important to take the time to find these gorgeous felines homes with families who could give them a little extra care. That’s where your support was once again invaluable. And thankfully, it was a
happy ending for these lovely cats… every single one was adopted. Two pairs even went home together. With the support of their wonderful new families, they now know the joys of loving forever homes. And that’s all because of you, our incredible supporters.
Thank you for your ongoing support as NSW Greyhounds search for love and kindness. You are bringing hope and freedom to hundreds of thousands of Greyhounds for generations to come.
Because of you, Greyhounds across NSW have a second chance at happiness Animal lovers like you will know there were engrained problems in the Greyhound racing industry in New South Wales which were extensive and unethical. You may have heard about countless animal welfare issues such as high injury rates, live baiting, lack of enrichment and socialisation, overbreeding, and physical exertion.
12 months to wind down, and will be banned as of 1 July 2017. It is an incredible and lifechanging result for thousands of Greyhounds whose lives have been dictated by this inherently cruel practice.
You may know too that tens of thousands of Greyhounds were euthanised simply because they weren’t seen as profitable or useful for racing purposes. What you may not have known is just how bad things had become. Greyhounds were doped with drugs like cocaine, methamphetamines and Viagra. Their blood was drained and given to other Greyhounds, and they were then killed. These poor, gentle dogs were also used for medical, scientific and surgical experiments. Sadly, for the vast majority of cases, the primary motivation for engaging in racing was financial gain and this occurred at the expense of the Greyhounds’ wellbeing. Now, thankfully, this appalling cruelty will be a thing of the past.
But as the industry begins the process of shutting down, we expect Greyhounds will begin pouring into RSPCA NSW shelters across the state. They’ll be in desperate need of food, medical care, rehabilitation and warm, safe beds. It’s times like these when, more than ever, we are so unbelievably grateful for all you do for animals in need. Thanks to your incredible support, these wonderful companions can receive the love and care required to keep them safe during their stays with us. And because of your belief that all animals deserve compassion and happiness, they can be rehabilitated from racing dogs to much-loved pets. They all have tremendous journeys ahead of them, but thanks to you, these couch potatoes can now get what they’ve always dreamt of – long, happy days spent curled up with families who love them. Thank you for supporting them as their lives change forever.
After battling for many long years, RSPCA NSW finally got the result we were so desperately hoping for. On 7 July 2016, the New South Wales Government declared that Greyhound racing in NSW would stop. The industry has been given
This result is unprecedented, but with so many Greyhounds expected to flood through RSPCA NSW’s doors, the work has only just begun. If you’d like to donate to support the futures of Greyhounds in need, please click here.
Fighting against animal cruelty with cupcakes If you’re a baking enthusiast, get ready to put on your apron and whip out that mixing bowl. RSPCA NSW’s sweetest day of the year, Cupcake Day, is right around the corner, and soon thousands of you will be baking and fundraising for animals in need. It’s truly inspiring to see so many of you come together to fight for your beliefs, changing lives with every dollar you raise. And of course, it’s a fantastic opportunity for you to get together with the people you love to enjoy a cupcake together. Cupcake Day is officially held on Monday 15 August, but RSPCA NSW knows there’s never a bad time to eat cupcakes, so you’re welcome to hold your event any day that month.
Your incredible fundraising efforts will bring hope and support to abandoned, neglected, injured and sick animals across the state. And you’ll help ensure they are treated with dignity and love, just as they should be. Without your incredible support, it just wouldn’t be possible – thank you so much.
Click here to register for Cupcake Day and you too can bake to transform lives, one cupcake at a time.
Have your say. What animal welfare issues are you interested in? We’d love to know. Tell us the causes that are important to you by emailing donations@rspcansw.org.au.
A second chance at happiness Thanks to your support, the Home Ever After program finds loving new homes for animals after their owners have passed away, or become unable to care for them. Your compassion brings peace of mind to pet owners, and protects the future of their much-loved animals.
132
dogs &
puppies
142 households are enrolled in the Home Ever After program. Of those homes, 141 have chosen to leave a legacy of love in their Wills.
123
cats & kittens
58
other pets
You’ve already safeguarded the future of 313 animals across NSW. Since the program began in July 2015, all of the animals who needed new homes have found them.
4
dogs
2
cats
23
other
29
rehomed
6
new owners
Home Ever After is a free service funded by you, our generous supporters. We only ask that those enrolled in the program consider remembering RSPCA NSW in their Wills. For more information about the Home Ever After program, please contact us on (02) 9782 4484 or email hea@rspcansw.org.au or click HERE.
Your steps helped countless animals in need Your incredible fundraising efforts during Million Paws Walk saw dog owners and their dogs unite across the state. Thank you for helping safeguard the future of tens of thousands of animals in need.
9,321 registrants 2,315 fundraising pages 38 exhibitors 20 walks 216 volunteers
Thank you from RSPCA NSW’s CEO Steve Coleman, RSPCA NSW CEO RSPCA NSW can only do what we do because of your continued kindness. And for that we are grateful beyond words. You’ve helped achieve so much this financial year, changing countless lives across the state, and defending the rights of those who bring us unmeasurable happiness. Your compassion has brought them joy and hope. Your donations have healed the sick and rescued those in need from life-threatening situations. You’ve protected the abused and neglected, and helped prosecute those who have harmed them. You’ve fought for their dignity each and every day. You’ve left lasting legacies of kindness and compassion. For that, I’m truly humbled. But your support does not only extend to animals. You’ve assisted pet owners too – people who are elderly, homeless or suffering from domestic violence. You’ve helped educate the public about the importance of animal
welfare, understanding that behind every animal is a person in need of support and guidance. RSPCA NSW couldn’t have done it without you. As we go into another financial year, RSPCA NSW would like to reiterate our word to you that we will always protect your information. We’ll keep your details safe and secure, and we’ll never share them with another charity. We promise too that your relationship and interactions with RSPCA NSW will continue to be based on mutual respect. By working together, animals across the state will be treated with respect and love, just as they deserve. Thank you again for all you have done, and for believing, as we do, that animals matter. Next year will be another big year, with tens of thousands more expected to pour through our doors. But with your support, RSPCA NSW knows it will be possible. Warmest regards,
Steve Coleman, RSPCA NSW CEO
Breed: Medium Hair crossbreed Age: 10 years old Gender: male
Jasper
Are you on the lookout for a fantastic feline to complete your family? Look no further than beautiful Jasper. He’s looking for a cosy home with a loving family who’ll adore him. Think Jasper would make the purrfect pet for you? Visit the Illawarra Shelter to adopt Jasper today.
Can you help him? adoptapet.com.au
Breed: Mastiff crossbreed Age: 12 years old Gender: male
Harry
Harry is a gorgeous older dog who’s looking for a forever home where he’ll be treated like a true member of the family. This handsome pooch deserves some extra attention, so he’d love to be allowed inside the house with you. Do you have space in your heart for him?
Can you help him? adoptapet.com.au
Breed: Domestic Shorthair crossbreed Age: 13 years old Gender: female
Peach
Pretty Peach was surrendered to RSPCA NSW after her owner could no longer care for her. As she’s an older lady, she’s searching for a quiet home with a kind, caring family. This sweet cat has so much affection to give. Can you give Peach the happy retirement she’s been looking for?
Can you help her? adoptapet.com.au
Where your money went Without your incredible support, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. Here’s how your generous donations have been put to use.
Shelters and clinics Inspectorate and legal Education Volunteer branches Fundraising Administration
Donate and help bring hope to animals in need
$28
could provide a month’s worth of arthritis medication to an older dog.
$47
could pay for the milk our foster carers need to bottle feed a litter of kittens.
$102 $5,000
could help to keep an Animal Ambulance on the road, rescuing injured animals.
could fund a parvovirus vaccination drive in a disadvantaged rural community.
Thank you for your kindness, for transforming their lives and your belief that animals matter. rspcansw.org.au