This week 21-27 May is National Volunteer Week and what better time to say THANK YOU to all our dedicated and hard working volunteers who make what we do possible.
You may have helped out once as part of your workplace giving program or you may be one of our dedicated regulars, on behalf of all the BAWCS shelter and sanctuary animals, we thank you for helping to make a difference!
While you definitely get your hands dirty caring for animals, it is such a rewarding experience. In the spirit of this years theme…Give a little. Change a lot….why not check out our Volunteer page and find out how you can get involved.
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.
As another year passes, we look back on all the lives we’ve been able to change in 2015 because of YOU! A huge THANK YOU to all of our dedicated volunteers, donors, sponsors, foster carers, business partners and adopters….we could not have done it without you!
We wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR and look forward to continuing our work in 2016 saving more lives and caring for the vulnerable.
Back in February this year, we received a call for help from a local trailer business, after they discovered four tiny kittens hidden inside a camper trailer which had been delivered from their Melbourne warehouse.
Beauty on arrival at BAWCS shelter
At just 2 weeks of age and without their mother, they were in desperate need of help to survive, so BAWCS stepped in to take care of them. We were handed a box with four hungry little kittens huddled together and headed back to our shelter, with the promise to give them the life they deserve.
Adoption Cattery volunteer Natalie trying her hand at bottle feeding Bindi
As with all babies, they initially needed around the clock bottle feeds. A task which was no easy feat with four hungry, loud and demanding little mouths to feed! At such a young age (and without their mothers care) we were reminded how fragile their little lives are, when Neo fell ill in the early hours one morning. With his tiny little body limp and falling in and out of consciousness, it was a much panicked drive to the vet at 3am! After not responding to the initial treatment, it was thought that he might not make it through the night.
Miraculously, after continued treatment with antibiotics for a suspected infection, we were so relieved to hear he was back to himself later in the day and charming the clinic staff with his cuteness!
Sleeping Beauty
Over time, they were weaned off the bottle and with lots of love and patience, we have watched them slowly grow to become playful and affectionate little kittens which have left tiny little paw prints on our hearts.
After having been fully vet worked, we are thrilled to have found a permanent home for Neo. Our remaining three “trailer kits” Beauty, Melody and Bindi are available for adoption and we look forward to finding them homes to begin their new lives.
.…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?
