Tawl Tails - 2019 - Winter

Tails OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE QUEENSLAND EST. 1959

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Animal Welfare League Qld Est. 1959

Winter 2019

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ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE QUEENSLAND INITIATIVES

CEO’S Message Welcome to our Winter edition of Tawl Tails – this is a special commemorative edition as we celebrate 60 years of creating a brighter future for animals in need and reflect on AWLQ’s incredible achievements over the past six decades.

None of this could have been possible without the vision of our Founding Committee and your continued support.

The legacy left by the Founding Committee is a profound one – not only have they assisted in changing the community’s attitude towards animals and their welfare, but their vision has resulted in thousands of animals being spared from certain death and more than 130,000 animals being provided a second chance at life.

Of course, none of this would have been achieved without our loyal and kind supporters who generously donate through a variety of ways. We are indebted to our supporters who have enabled us to achieve so much in AWLQ HEAD OFFICE Shelter Road Coombabah QLD 4216

Events

PO Box 3253 Helensvale Town Centre QLD 4212 07 5509 9000 info@awlqld.com.au Bequests & Legacy Pets 07 5509 9099 bequests@awlqld.com.au

Business Relations & Fundraising Manager 07 5509 9057 fundraising@awlqld.com.au

Community & School Education 07 5509 9034 education@awlqld.com.au

07 5509 9015 events@awlqld.com.au

accomplishing real and long-term improvements in the welfare of companion animals.

As you read through this special edition of Tawl Tails you will see a selection of our highlights and achievements from the past 60 years. Including the evolution of AWLQ from a volunteer committee to the organisation it is today, the change and advancement in facilities and services, people who have contributed to our success and the development of our lifechanging innovative programs.

Seniors Pet Support Program

MEMBER OF AUSTRALIAN CHARITIES FOUNDATION

What an incredible journey we’ve had. AWLQ has grown from a small group of dedicated volunteers in 1959 to one of Australia’s leading animal welfare organisations in 2019. Thank you for being part of this and we look forward to sharing the next 60 years with you.

FOUNDING MEMBER OF ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE AUSTRALIA

My sincere thanks to you all.

Animal Welfare League

AWLQ ANIMAL REHOMING CENTRES

FEEDBACK

Gold Coast

Beenleigh

Friends Forever Loyalty Program

Shelter Road, Coombabah 07 5509 9000 goldcoastrehoming@awlqld.com.au

Rossmans Road, Stapylton 07 3807 3782 beenleighrehoming@awlqld.com.au

07 5509 9000 info@awlqld.com.au

Warra

Willawong

523 Telegraph Road, Bracken Ridge 07 3631 6800 warrashelter@awlqld.com.au

501 Gooderham Road, Willawong 07 3714 2800 willawongshelter@awlqld.com.au

AWLQ COMMUNITY VET CLINICS

SOCIAL CHANNELS

Fostering 07 5509 9020 fostering@awlqld.com.au

Golden HeartsTM Seniors Pet Support 07 5509 9033 goldenhearts@awlqld.com.au

PR & Communications Manager 07 5509 9030 communications@awlqld.com.au

Volunteering 07 5509 9019 volunteering@awlqld.com.au

Australia

Denise Bradley Chief Executive Officer

Gold Coast Community Vet Clinic Shelter Road, Coombabah 07 5594 0111 goldcoastvetclinic@awlqld.com.au

Ipswich Community Vet Clinic 42 Tiger Street, West Ipswich 07 3812 7533 ipswichvetclinic@awlqld.com.au

We would love to hear from you.

Please send any feedback, photos or story ideas to communications@awlqld.com.au.

© No part of Tawl Tails may be produced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without prior written permission from Animal Welfare League Queensland.

@AWLQLD #awlq /Animal Welfare League Qld

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Animal Welfare League Qld Est. 1959

A message

s n o r t a P r from Ou HON. MICHAEL KIRBY AC, CMG AWLQ IS AN ORGANISATION I AM PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH AS A PATRON. IT DESERVES OUR THANKS AND SUPPORT AS IT APPROACHES THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS OUTSTANDING AND EFFICIENT WORK FOR JUSTICE AND ANIMAL RIGHTS IN OUR COUNTRY.

ITA BUTTROSE AC, OBE AWLQ HAS A BIG HEART AND MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. FOR 60 YEARS IT HAS GIVEN ANIMALS A SECOND CHANCE OF LIFE AND BROUGHT MUCH JOY TO THEIR OWNERS. I AM PLEASED AND PROUD TO BE A PATRON OF THIS VERY SPECIAL ORGANISATION.

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Animal Welfare League Queensland through the decades

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1959-1979 Animal Welfare League Queensland was founded in 1959, when a small group of animal lovers were concerned with the inhumane treatment of impounded dogs.

With no rehoming strategies in place at the local pound, stray dogs and cats were shot and dumped in landfill if unclaimed.

Before the Sanctuary was started Mrs Karhula, Mrs Mooney and Mrs Schuchard would go to the poundkeepers, pay a fee and rescue the dogs until their owners, or new ones, could be found.

The AWLQ was originally called The Animal Lovers League of the Gold Coast and was formed by Neil Andersen (President), Mavis Andersen, Bobby Schuchard, Mr. Holzapfel and a number of other concerned residents.

Mr. Holzapfel’s dog, Chippy, was also an integral part of the organisation and was a fixture at all fundraising activities.

The League then went on to be called, the Animal Protection League and The Animal Welfare and Protection League, before becoming the Animal Welfare League of Queensland Inc.

Animal Lovers Committee, 1959 - Mr Holzapfel, Neil Andersen, Bobby Schuchard, Mavis Andersen, Chippy and other founding commitee members

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The Sanctuary Gold Coast City Council leased The Animal Lovers League a piece of land on Pine Ridge Road in Paradise Point to establish a facility where animals could be cared for.

This was to become known as The Sanctuary.

The Founding Committee and supporters of The Animal Lovers League set to work to clear the land of rubbish in preparation for developing their first animal rehoming centre. Impounded dogs were kept there, and the League took the responsibility for finding homes for the unclaimed ones.

The facility was very modest, with the first shelters for the animals consisting of wire netting and packing cases. George Kitchen, the first Curator, lived in a caravan on site.

My Memories The daughter of Margaret and Julian Millar, Lousie Piper, recalls her parent’s time assisting the League in the early days.

“My parents used to go often to the League’s kennels in Pine Ridge Road when they first started. My father helped to put concrete floors in the runs so the dogs could not dig their way out. Mum raised money at different functions with raffles until there was finally enough money to have a resident vet to desex the animals on site and look after the sick ones,” says Ms Piper.

Margot Scott, a fundraiser of The Animal Lovers League, recalls the original shelter in Pine Ridge Road, had nothing there at all.

“There was just a grass paddock with a dusty old road going past it. It had a little loo which once got blown down by the wind. We received very little help and most of the help we did was mainly given by pensioners.

“We would build little wire shelters for animals as we went along. Cats were a big problem and were always coming in. There was an old lady up the road in Pine Ridge Road, she used to come in and clean the cat pens, and feed them,” said Ms Scott.

The Committee had many cats and dogs desexed with the hope of keeping down the appalling birth-rate of unwanted animals.

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Fundraising The early years were financially tough – many dedicated people working tirelessly to keep The Sanctuary doors open.

This included numerous income generation streams such as Margot Scott selling handmade cards, holding garden parties, afternoon teas, miles of coins fundraisers and the committee attending numerous community fundraisers.

More hard work was done by the members in running stalls, and raffles. Neil Andersen, assisted by Lyn Wood of the Main Roads Department and Mr Penefather ran two very successful Spring Festival Queen Competitions.

These were held at the Gold Coast Show Grounds with accompanying stalls, ice cream and soft drinks.

Dances were held at the Southport Hotel, with feature nights such as Shipwreck Night, where everyone dressed accordingly. Soon enough money was raised to build better quality kennels.

Mrs M. Smyth, who especially loved cats, was the League’s first Patron and Trustee, and gave very large donations from the beginning. She was made an Honorary Life Member for her wonderful help.

Dr Robert Chester was the first Veterinary Surgeon, and helped the League in every possible way, with advice and much free service. He designed the League’s first block of kennels.

The League would ask all the business people they knew for donations – they were very generous and good sums of money were raised to help start the Sanctuary.

My memories Each year, Margot Scott hand painted beautiful Christmas cards which were sold to raise funds for AWLQ. Margot remembers The Gold Coast Bulletin were a huge help in promoting these cards in the paper and provided herwith a mailing list.

Margot wrote to everyone on the list , with huge success. Every single person on the list donated to help our animals. The pensioners were the most generous.

Mr and Mrs Holzapfel and their little blind dog “Chippy” are well remembered. Chippy spent long hours in hotels, in the street, and at various functions holding up her paws and begging for donations with a box in front of her saying ‘I’m a lucky doggi, a lot of my mates are not. Please help them!’

Mrs Mitchell put forward the idea of opening an economy shop. In 1960 she wrote to Waltons, who agreed to let the League use a shop which was later to be pulled down. This was the fore­ runner of our Young Street shop in Southport.

Denise Bradley (sitting) in the Spring Festival Parade

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1980’s The demand for land for housing resulted in The Sanctuary being relocated to the present site on Shelter Road in Coombabah.

Residential development had been closing in on the old site and complaints had been made to the council about the noise of the animals.

Chief Council Health Inspector Tom Schamburg at the time said Pine Ridge Road was all right when it was there first but development took place around it. The current site is away from residential areas and has been designed to minimise noise from the animals [sic].

In 1984, Gold Coast City Council offered the now renamed The Animal Protection League of the Gold Coast Inc. land adjacent to the Council’s pound facilities on Shelter Road in Coombabah to build a rehoming facility.

This also provided the opportunity to expand the organisation’s facilities and services.

This milestone marked the start of an official working relationship with Council’s Animal Management division and means more lives than ever are saved.

Black animals were less likely to be adopted and with so many animals looking for homes were more likely to be euthanised.

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The new facilities consisted of housing to hold approximately 50 dogs and cats. This included kennels and running yards for the dogs, catteries, a quarantine area and a caretaker’s house.

Despite the new and improved facilities, resources were stretched to the limit with the ever increasing number of animals coming into care.

The healthy dogs were kept for at least 10 days and cats for four months before they were given a lethal injection. Staff at the time knew everyone who brought an animal to them wanted them to be rehomed rather than put down, but they did not have a choice – there were just too many animals.

Tuesday’s became a day of heartache, despair and death. The day was referred to as Judgement Day – staff had to decide which animals lived and which animals had to be put down.

Every month the League received hundreds of animals but could only accommodate approximately 54 cats and 55 dogs. The never ending stream of stray and homeless animals coming into care placed significant pressure on the League’s housing capacity, sadly resulting in many of these animals being euthanised due to lack of space.

In December 1988 the League received 294 cats and kittens – while homes were found for 27 of them and 54 were available for adoption – a staggering 213 were euthanised. In the same period the League received 202 dogs – 68 were claimed by their owner or adopted and 55 were made available for adoption – the balance was euthanised.

These figures were typical for this period of time.

AWLQ in the news in the 1980’s

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1990’s The 1990s saw significant change for the Animal Protection League of the Gold Coast Inc – the organisation became known as Animal Protection and Welfare League of Queensland Inc and thanks to a generous bequest from the estate of John and Hazel Dodds new facilities were built on site incorporating 30 large modern dog kennels, administration centre, and a veterinary clinic. The 1990s also heralded in the start of an exciting period of growth which saw the organisation rise nationally as a leader in animal welfare improvements and reform.

Initially the shelter clinic worked a few days a week to treat, desex, and euthanise shelter animals.

Having the use of an onsite vet rather than utilising the services of a local vet meant an increase in efficiency and a reduction in shelter costs which led to more animals being saved and rehomed.

In 1996, Denise Bradley, daughter of founding members Neil and Mavis Andersen, stepped in as President of the now renamed Animal Welfare League of Queensland (AWLQ).

Ushering in a new and exciting era for the organisation. Denise started a branch of the Animal Welfare League in 1993 in Jimboomba before moving across to manage the operations of the organisation at the Gold Coast in 1996.

Denise stayed on as honorary CEO until 2010 and was then offered a permanent position within the organisation.

Denise helped to put the organisation financially on track, introduced a host of new programs, and was instrumental in increasing the number of animals which were rehomed. The organisation tripled the number of homeless cats rehomed and more than doubled the number of dogs rehomed.

In addition, a variety of enrichment programs were introduced, including taking the dogs to the beach three days a week, a golden oldies program for older animals, and education programs for schools.

Denise’s incredible contribution to AWLQ would later be recognised when Denise is nominated for the Gold Coast Honours list.

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Animal Welfare League Qld Est. 1959

AWLQ Logos from the 90’s to our current logo today

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My memories Denise’s personal relationship with the AWLQ began in the early 1990s when she started the Beaudesert Shire Branch along with a small group of fellow animal lovers. The Branch was run from her home, where she and her ever-patient husband, Terry, would often keep up to 10 rescued animals.

Every Friday she would also collect animals from the Beaudesert Pound and drive them to the AWLQ on the Gold Coast for rehoming.

“I could only take as many as would safely fit in my van. It was very distressing knowing the ones you left behind would later that morning be euthanized by the local vet and their bodies put in wheelie bins for collection. Then finally, for the first time in Council’s history, they didn’t have to call the vet. I was able to take them all and drive away from an empty pound with no wheelie bins waiting on the footpath. It is a day I will never forget, I cried all the way to the Gold Coast both from happiness and also with sadness for the many precious lives that had been lost in the pound over the years,” says Ms Bradley.

John and Hazel Dobbs left a generous bequest of $1 million allowing the first vet clinic to be built

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2000’s A change to the Australian Veterinary Surgeons Act in 2001 meant vet surgeries no longer had to be owned by a vet. This provided AWLQ the opportunity to open their first Community Vet Clinic in Queensland and make desexing and vet care more accessible and affordable to thousands of pet owners in the community.

AWLQ’s Community Vet Clinic model is unique in Australia, no sick or suffering animal will ever be turned away and will have access to veterinary care regardless of their owner’s capacity to pay. As part of AWLQ’s commitment to keeping pets and their families together, AWLQ provides charitable support to clients for emergency and urgent treatments, meaning all members of the community can access these services.

Prior to the establishment of the Community Vet Clinics, AWLQ received many surrendered pets simply because their families couldn’t afford to pay for veterinary treatment.

Simone Chmielewski, AWLQ Community Vet Clinic Regional Administrator says the Clinics are unique in that they do not means test.

“We have all kinds of clients: people who are looking for housing, working class people on low incomes, a lot of seniors who rely heavily on their pet for companionship. We don’t feel it’s in the best interests for our community, for these people to be faced with having to make difficult decisions – such as euthanasia. So supporting and enabling people to keep their pets really underpins what we do.”

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My memories Dr John Gilmore was the first veterinarian employed at AWLQ’s first ever community vet clinic and is still working at the Gold Coast Community Vet Clinic.

“Our very first vet clinic was opened with just one vet for half a day. Today we operate with 15 vets, 22 vet nurses, 8 reception staff, 2 administration staff and volunteers. The Gold Coast Community Vet Clinic routinely sees up to 70 patients per day “The ability to perform lifesaving procedures and offer financial assistance at the same time means we can keep animals and their families together. To assist with preventing unwanted litters the AWLQ Community Vet Clinics offer desexing at a reduced rate to encourage pet owners to have their animals desexed. What most people may not know is that as part of our promise we provide hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in charitable and welfare work to the community,”says Dr Gilmore

In the late 1990s, a generous donation enabled AWLQ to contemplate starting a community vet clinic and it launched in 2001.

“That’s how it all started – as a shelter and rehoming centre, we were seeing first-hand the need in the community and how many people were unable to get the vet care they needed,” says Ms Chmielewski.

One example Simone recalls is a case where a dog fell off the back of a car and AWLQ spent six months treating the animal to get him back to full health.

“It was a lot of work for our team and it would never have been possible for that owner to afford the treatment. It was so rewarding at the to end of it, when the dog was able to go home. “ When you’re able to give an animal the care they need and send it home with its owners – that puts a smile on my face every day.”

The Gold Coast Community Vet Clinic opening in 2001 and this was followed by the Ipswich Community Vet Clinic in 2006.

My memories “I still vividly remember the day when an elderly couple came to the vet clinic cradling their small dog in their arms. They were bringing their dog in to be euthanized on the advice of their vet because they couldn’t afford to have a lump removed and their vet had advised their only option was to euthanize the dog and to take it to the AWLQ for them to euthanize the dog.

This little dog was their only reason for living and they were distraught thinking they would be going home without their dog. Imagine their absolute joy when our vet told them that we would do the surgery to remove the lump at a price they could afford, and that they would have many more happy years together. These are the memorable days that stay with you forever.

Some people would say if you can’t afford the veterinary treatment for a pet you shouldn’t have one but that’s not the reality, and sometimes life throws you a curveball through no fault of your own. It is so gratifying that AWLQ will always be there to assist the pets of people in need,” says Ms Bradley Tawl Tails Winter Edition 2019 - Page 12

NATIONAL NETWORK Based on the effective U.S. model ‘Spay USA’, in 2004 AWLQ launched the National Desexing Network (NDN), which coordinates discounted desexing services across Australia. NDN is the only nation-wide referral service for discounted desexing in Australia.

The objective of NDN is to end pet overpopulation by making this service more affordable to those who might not otherwise be in a position to desex their pets. Around 23 cats and dogs die every hour of every day in pounds and shelters nationwide, due to the ongoing problem of pet overpopulation. These healthy, loving animals are being killed because there are not enough homes available.

NDN has a nationwide network of more than 160 participating veterinary clinics and to date has helped to desex around 200,000 cats and dogs across the country.

NDN Cooperative Cat Desexing Programs were later developed by AWLQ to assist Councils to help their residents in need to desex their animals and thus prevent litters of unwanted animals.

This reduced costs of animal management and animal welfare groups with fewer unwanted animals to collect, hold and rehome.

National Desexing Month in July works with vets, councils and the community to promote the importance of desexing and prevent unwanted litters

all of Gold Coast City’s stray and abandoned animals, it has been possible to develop a whole community change model, transferrable to other cities and towns.

In 2007 AWLQ nationally launched the Getting to Zero Model to reduce the numbers of incoming cats and dogs to pounds and shelters and saving 90% of all incoming stray and surrendered cats and dogs. Under this model euthanasia should only occur if an animal is irremediably suffering or displays aggressive behaviour which is likely to be a serious risk to people or other companion animals.

The model is based on AWLQ’s successful strategies in reducing incoming animals and reducing euthanasia rates in Gold Coast, Australia, a city with over half a million people. Because AWLQ manages

In the News

All healthy and treatable cats and dogs are now being saved i.e. in 2016/17, 91% of the 5000 stray and surrendered cats and dogs in City of Gold Coast, with a population of 600,000 people were reclaimed or rehomed.

This save rate is higher than most other pounds and shelters where euthanasia rates often range between 20 - 30% of dogs and 30 - 60% of cats.

Under the Getting 2 Zero banner AWLQ hosts the biennial National Summit to End Pet Overpopulation. The conference brings together international speakers and delegates from all over Australia for the purpose of finding solutions to the pet overpopulation crisis and reducing the high euthanasia rates in pounds and shelters across the country.

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2010’s Tragedy struck the AWLQ in 2010 when a fire ripped through the organisations warehouse, destroying thousands of dollars worth of op shop stock and 50 years of historical documents.

In 2011 AWLQ opened a rehoming centre in Ipswich to find homes for unclaimed strays from the pound.

This ushered in a new era of hope for stray and homeless animals in Ipswich.

When AWLQ commenced their rehoming program euthanasia rates were estimated to be at an alltime high of 85% at the Ipswich Pound. AWLQ worked tirelessly to reduce these. This was eventually achieved and AWLQ was rehoming all healthy and sociable animals.

As a result euthanasia rates were reduced to 15% and an amazing result with 85% of the animals being rehomed.

In 2011 AWLQ opened a rehoming centre in Ipswich, to find homes for unclaimed strays from the pound.

In an Australian first, AWLQ launched Project Empty Shelter in 2013. This would become the organisation’s annual largest adoption drive. The objective was to rehome all animals available for adoption in time for Christmas. In the first year 153 animals were adopted in one weekend. The campaign has continued to be run each year and now results in 200+ animals over the weekend finding homes in time for Christmas.

The Gold Coast Community Vet Clinic opening in 2001 and this was followed by the Ipswich Community Vet Clinic in 2006.

AWLQ was awarded the contract to service Brisbane City’s two animal rehoming centres in 2014 and we immediately put into place Getting 2 Zero strategies and practices to reduce euthanasia rates and increase rehoming.

This ushered in a new era of hope for stray and homeless animals in Brisbane.

Prior to AWLQ being awarded the contract and implementing new rehoming strategies, euthanasia rates were estimated to be at 71.5%, AWLQ worked tirelessly to reduce these. This was eventually achieved and AWLQ was able to promise never to euthanise a healthy, sociable or treatable animal in our care.

With AWLQ’s assistance, Brisbane City Council becomes the first capital city council to achieve zero euthanasia of healthy and social pound animals. As a result euthanasia rates were reduced to 12%, and 88% of the animals were being rehomed.

AWLQ was awarded the contract to service Brisbane City’s two animal rehoming centres in 2014

HON. MICHAEL KIRBY AC CMG “AWLQ’s achievements in the community will certainly contribute significantly to improving animal welfare outcomes for the pets of Australia.

I am honoured to be associated with Animal Welfare League Queensland as its Patron since 2014.”

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Florence Venery, an avid animal advocate and a woman ahead of her time, passed away in June 2014 and left a sizeable bequest to AWLQ. Her bequest changed lives, and continues to save the lives of cats who find themselves homeless and in need of our loving care.

AWLQ’s cattery was in need of refurbishment - it was old, cold in winter, hot in summer and was hard to keep clean. In 2016, Florence’s bequest allowed AWLQ to create a state-of-the-art facility for cats and kittens to be rehomed from.

It created a far less stressful environment for cats and kittens, many of which find it hard to adjust to the unfamiliar environment of any rehoming centre.

Florence Venery

The Cattery before the refurbishment

The Cattery after the refurbishment

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Golden Hearts™ Seniors’ Pet Support program launched in 2016. With Ita Buttrose AC, OBE as Ambassador, Golden Hearts is the first holistic pet support program for seniors in Australia and the world.

We also support older people who need to transition into an aged-care facility that does not allow pets. AWLQ understands this is a very difficult time and offers free surrender of a person’s beloved pet and will match it with a loving new home in a similar environment to what it had.

The key objective of this program is to keep seniors and their pets together – it supports seniors through every step of pet ownership whether they adopted their pet from AWLQ or not. Golden Hearts™ supports its members with emergency foster care of their pet if they have to go into hospital. Members can also receive discounts on annual vaccinations through AWLQ’s Community Vet Clinics, plus 10% off other services and offers discounted pet grooming.

Neil Andersen, Fay Bradley, Ita Buttrose and Denise Bradley

ITA BUTTROSE AC, OBE “Golden Hearts™ is a world-first community initiative with proven health and social benefits for mature-aged people. As a proud life-long pet owner, I have experienced first-hand the happiness an animal can bring to your life. As its Ambassador since 2015, I am proud to endorse Golden Hearts™ Seniors’ Pets Support Program.”

Today Now sixty years on, thanks to the vision of the founding committee, AWLQ cares for more than 10,000 stray and homeless animals - providing them a second chance at life. AWLQ has grown to be one of the largest animal welfare organisations in Queensland and remains committed to creating a brighter future for animals in need.

AWLQ works with local councils, state government, rescue groups and the community to improve the outcomes for stray and surrendered pets, and is renowned for their unique and innovative programs, initiatives and rehoming strategies.

AWLQ do not just rehome animals from our Centres; we also work with a number of outreach rehoming locations throughout South East Qld, helping to increase our adoption rates and making companion animal adoption more accessible to the community.

AWLQ could not achieve such success without our volunteers. It is thanks to the tireless efforts of those 862 people who donated 92,490 hours in the last financial year.

We count ourselves extremely lucky to have such a wonderful, dedicated team of Board Members and staff. Every team member strives each day to create a brighter future for animals in need.

The important contribution by our foster carers enables us to uphold our promise to never euthanise a healthy, sociable or treatable animal, in our care. 3,733 animals were fostered during 2018.

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AWLQ has 13 Op Shops located around the Gold Coast and in Ipswich and Beaudesert operated by dedicated, loyal and hardworking volunteers. Funds raised from AWLQ’s Op Shops are crucial in ensuring we can continue to deliver our lifesaving work.

Through our Community Vet Clinics, AWLQ works to keep animals and their families together by providing financial support for urgent and emergency treatments, no matter their owner’s financial circumstances. In the past 12 months AWLQ has provided $1.3m in charitable support to the community resulting in hundreds of animals lives being saved.

Now in its 15th year of operation, our National Desexing Network works with the community to prevent unwanted litters, and ultimately pain and suffering for thousands of unwanted animals. As a result more than 23,000 animals are desexed every year and since being established AWLQ’s National Desexing Network has assisted to desex over 200,000 cats and dogs.

Our Golden HeartsTM Seniors Pet Support Program provides support to aged people with free emergency foster care of their pets when they go into hospital, discounted vet help for their pets, and assistance with their pets should they have to transition into care. In the past 12 months AWLQ assisted 25 aged persons who have been hospitalised with emergency boarding of their pets.

With your support in 2018/19 Our shelters cared for over

10,000

homeless animals Rehomed

Reunited

6,435

3,925

We assisted with

Our shelters rehomed

desexing operations

senior cats and dogs

animals

lost animals

26,342

396

Our Community Vet Clinics provided

Our shelter vets provided

in charitable support

medical treatments

$1.3M

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32,175

Animal Welfare League Qld

AWLQLD.COM.AU

Est. 1959

@AWLQLD

“Congratulations on 60 years” “For seven years, von Bibra Auto Village has been proud to support the incredible service that AWLQ provides the Gold Coast community.

Being animal lovers, many of the von Bibra staff have adopted their furry friends through the AWLQ and we continue to be inspired by the tireless work they do in finding homes for over 10,000 abandoned, stray and surrendered animals each year.

One of von Bibra’s core values is to ensure we support our local community by working with associations like the AWLQ, who are always so generous with their time and provide such a valuable service, which inspires us to help how we can.

AWLQ’s promise to never euthanise a healthy, sociable or treatable animal in their care is a huge task and we urge anyone looking to get a pet to consider adopting from AWLQ. This ensures AWLQ’s life saving work continues and means other less fortunate animals get the care they need and funds valuable programs such as the Golden HeartsTM Seniors’ Pet Support and Pet Legacy Program.

From all of us here at von Bibra, congratulations to AWLQ on 60 years of amazing service and the thousands of animals that have been homed in loving families thanks to you.”

- Wade von Bibra, Group General Manager

Here at 102.9 Hot Tomato, being involved and supporting the local community is one of our key priorities and with organisations like the AWLQ on the Coast, we are so proud to help. Their continued dedication and love for all animals is inspiring to us all, and we commend them for their work over the past 60 years.

We have always loved including AWLQ in our shows and events to inform the local community how important animal education and pet adoption is, plus to show how beautiful these animals that need re-homing are.

We fully support the work that AWLQ does, and we want to personally thank and congratulate all the volunteers and staff who work so hard to ensure that the thousands of abandoned, stray and surrendered pets at your shelters go to a good home.

On behalf of 102.9 Hot Tomato, we want to say huge congratulations to AWLQ on 60 years of caring for and re-homing animals into welcoming arms. Thank you for all you do.

- Flan, Emily Jade & Christo

For the last 60 years AWLQ have generously given their time to care for and rehome stray and surrendered animals. RACQ is proud to partner with AWLQ and congratulate them on this wonderful achievement.

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Thank you to our major Corporate Sponsors

Background for visual purposes only

The Elsie Cameron Foundation

Your lasting legacy Leaving a small gift in your Will ensures a future for animals in need

Contact us today for more information or for a confidential conversation. Visit awlqld.com.au/bequests | Call 07 5509 9099 | E: bequests@awlqld.com.au

Our Promise Our promise is to never euthanise a healthy, sociable, or treatable animal in our care. It’s because of our promise and your support that these beautiful animals were able to have a second chance in life and find new loving homes.

Riley

Taylor

Peter

Arlo Daisy

Charles Spud Twinkles

s ’ Q L AW e r u t u F For the past 60 years AWLQ has worked tirelessly to create a brighter future for animals in need – and we will continue to work towards this for the next 60 years.

Our goals are to: •

Continue to keep our promise to never euthanise a healthy, sociable or treatable animal in our care.

•

Provide stray and homeless animals a second chance at life through innovative rehoming strategies.

•

Prevent the birth of unwanted kittens and puppies through our National Desexing Network by working with the community.

•

Increase the number of our Councils participating in our Cooperative Desexing Programs.

•

Work with Councils to improve the living conditions and treatment of animals in shelters and pounds, while working with them to introduce the Getting 2 Zero model.

•

Keep people and their pets together by providing financial support for emergency and urgent treatments through our Community Vet Clinics.

•

Through the Golden Hearts Program support seniors through every step of pet ownership, including providing emergency boarding in times of need.

•

Improve the community’s attitude toward all animals through education.

•

Find a positive solution for homeless cats.

•

Raise the value of animals in society so that the intrinsic needs of each species are recognized, respected and met.

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SUPPORTERS

BECOME A

BEAUDESERT - Ph: 07 5541 0187 Shop 1, 15 William St

Foster

BURLEIGH - Ph: 07 5568 7677 Cnr Gold Coast Hwy & Elder St. COOMBABAH - Ph: 07 5529 6015 Shop 21, Coombabah Plaza Hansford St

CARER

COOMBABAH - Ph: 07 5509 9016 Shelter Road CURRUMBIN - Ph: 07 5525 0362 2/56 Currumbin Creek Rd IPSWICH - Ph: 07 3282 9277 189 Brisbane St LABRADOR - Ph: 07 5529 2588 1/162 Turpin Rd MIAMI - Ph: 07 5572 2882 Shop 5/10-14 Pacific Ave SOUTHPORT - Ph: 07 5591 2728 18B Young St WORONGARY - Ph: 07 5575 2194 Shop 41, Worongary Town Centre CAT & HOUND - Ph: 07 5503 1162 18C Young St Southport ADOPT-A-BOOK Ashmore Shopping Centre WAREHOUSE - Ph: 07 5529 1244 Unit C6-239 Brisbane Rd, Biggera Waters

To arrange the collection of donated items please call 5509 9056.

The Elsie Cameron Foundation

VISIT AWLQLD.COM.AU OR CALL 5509 9020

BECOME A

Dog Kennel or Cat Pen SPONSOR

VISIT AWLQLD.COM.AU OR CALL 5509 9057 Tawl Tails Winter Edition 2019 - Page 23

We promise

to never euthanise a healthy, sociable or treatable animal in our care.

Help us keep this promise, donate today at awlqld.com.au

E mb racing a B hter Future rig

Animal Welfare League Qld Est. 1959