Following the construction of our new barn, Phase Two of our Build A Barn project is finally underway! BAWCS has received a very generous helping hand from our latest sponsor Champion Stable Systems with the supply and installation of two shiny new stables in our barn.
We are so grateful for this support which will not only allow us to provide extra care and comfort for our resident horses but also any of our other residents or newcomers that need a little extra care in an indoor environment for recovery.
We can’t wait to start using our stables which are extremely well built and of high quality. We were so impressed that each stable came complete with a sturdy feed trough, automatic drinker and hay feeder.
A HUGE thank you to Champion Stable Systems for your generous sponsorship and a special mention to Glen for choosing BAWCS to support and to Roger for his fantastic customer service! Want to know more about Champion Stable Systems? Check out their website here and tell them BAWCS sent you!
It’s National Volunteer Week from 9-15 May and all of the BAWCS animals want to say THANK YOU!
BAWCS is currently ENTIRELY volunteer run and rely on the dedication of our volunteers, whether it be at our shelter looking after our cats, dogs and farm animals or fostering, dog walking, admin support, fundraising or transporting animals. We would like to say “Thank You” to each and every one of you for generously giving your time. You ALL contribute to helping so many animals in need and we couldn’t do it without you!
Would YOU like to be a part of our great team? Check out our Volunteer page for further details.
BAWCS had a great day at the recent Australia Day Celebrations at Lake Weeroona, organised by the Rotary Club of Bendigo Sandhurst. With over 140 market stalls and free entertainment, crowds of people took advantage of this great event and the equally great weather!
Our star attraction was Phantom, our 19 year old miniature horse, who had an early start being loaded into the float and safely transported to the lake by our friends Ian and Ester from Horse and Country Bendigo. Phantom was set up lakeside with lots of visitors to charm. You would never know this was only his second public event and what a star he was!
Many people lined up to participate in our “Photo with Phantom” fundraiser with our Photographer Glynn Jarrett, who donated his time on the day. Together with his lovely wife Margaret, providing professional photo’s with Phantom to raise much needed funds for BAWCS. Glynn worked tirelessly to get the right shots and customers were able to walk away with a USB of photos or have them emailed to them the next day.
Thank you to everyone who visited our fundraising stall, to those who bought raffle tickets and those of you who purchased a Farm Friends Sponsorship (Phantom being the most popular on the day). It is only with the support of the community and compassionate people that we can continue to help the many animals that come into our care.
Thank you to all our volunteers on the day who made this possible and Ian and Ester from Horse and Country Bendigo, who once again transported our precious Phantom to and from the venue. Like to know more about Phantom, our star of the day? Check out his story here.
With the clip clop of little hooves and a neigh to announce his arrival, Phantom made his debut at the Vegecareian Festival yesterday.
The yearly event held at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion attracts crowds from all around the Bendigo region, many of whom met Phantom at our stall yesterday.
Phantom is an 18 year old Falabella (miniature horse) who is a permanent resident at the BAWCS shelter and part of our Farm Friends Sponsorship program.
With his calm nature and small stature, he proved to be quite a popular boy with many people keen to have a pat or share a photo with him.
Later in the day, he even lined up to participate in the Animal Blessings where he was happy to take the spotlight and charm everyone he met along the way.
Skeeter (previously adopted BAWCS dog) stopped by to say hello
Thank you to everyone who visited our stall and made a purchase or donation. It is only with the support of the community that we can continue our work.
Thank you to Horse and Country Bendigo for providing Phantom’s transport
A huge thank you must also go to Ian and Ester from Horse and Country Bendigo for kindly donating use of their float for the day and safely transporting Phantom to and from the festival.
We look forward to next year’s event, where Phantom will be no doubt make many more friends!
If you would like to become Phantom’s Farm Friend Sponsor, click here
.…you’d be smitten without a doubt! When our piglet Truffelina recently arrived at the BAWCS Shelter, we were instantly in love with this special little girl.
Originally living on a farm, her owners relocated and Truffelina’s future was looking very bleak! A compassionate friend took her in temporarily, realising that her residential property was not the ideal environment and contacted BAWCS in the hope of finding a permanent home for her.
Volunteer Liz helping Truffelina to feel comfortable with her carers
On arrival at the shelter, it was quite clear that she was not comfortable with human interaction but with patience and care, we are slowly gaining her trust.
She is very inquisitive and has an obsession with chewing on her carers shoes and untying the laces. It was an exciting step when she recently rolled over for tummy rubs, a true sign of her trust growing for her human carers!
Like all pigs, Truffelina is keen to explore. Their flat snouts are ideal for digging up the ground, one of their many natural instincts, which are denied to pigs being housed in intensive farming environments.
Sadly, piglets raised in commercial piggeries do not have the same rights to life as Truffelina. We encourage you to learn more here http://www.aussiefarms.org.au/ and please choose compassionately when shopping.
Truffelina is fortunate as she has a safe future ahead of her as a permanent resident in our Farm Friends Program, where we can watch her grow and live a happy (and long) life that she deserves.
If you’d like to be friends with Truffelina then why not become a Farm Friends Sponsor?
Who has lovely long lashes and pokes out their tongue when they’re hungry?
Abbey and Bella of course! And these girls sure have won our hearts since we were asked to take on two “bobby calves” late last year.
The term “bobby calves” refers to newborn calves that are less than 30 days old, which have been separated from their mothers. The majority of calves (female) are not required to replenish the milking herd, and along with all bull calves (males), are considered “wastage” by the dairy industry.
Every year in Australia, approx. 400,000 bobby calves are slaughtered.
For cows to continue to produce milk, they have to give birth to a calf every year! Without human intervention, calves would suckle from their mother for months and like any mother, they have a strong maternal bond. Under constant pressure for every dairy cow to produce more and more milk, calves are taken from their mothers within a day of birth. You can imagine the stress this separation can cause to both mother and calf but remember the mother cow is subjected to this practice repeatedly. At just five days old, the babies can be legally transported to abattoirs and sale yards. At such a young age, they can be difficult to move which increases their risk of injury.
Volunteer Nick bottle feeding Abbey
Many people have visions of dairy cows living idyllic lives in the country side, and the belief that they naturally produce enough milk to provide for both human consumption and their baby. In reality, the dairy cow is subjected to a continuous cycle of calving, milking and impregnation.
With more people choosing to buy cruelty free and the increase in allergies and intolerance’s, there are now many alternatives to dairy products. The supermarket shelves are brimming with healthy milk choices including soy, coconut, rice and almond. You might even be surprised to know that some of the alternatives are actually higher in calcium then cow’s milk so it’s worth doing your research.
No cow in either the dairy or beef industry, live out their natural lives of 20 to 25 years however, unlike the thousands of babies considered “wastage” by the dairy industry each year, Abbey and Bella will remain safe with us at the BAWCS Shelter for the entirety of their lives.
If you would like to help give them the life they deserve, why not become their Farm Friends Sponsor?
