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.
Tawl Tails Winter Edition 2019 - Page 5
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.