Toyah mural makes debut at new Port Douglas pet facility

Toyah Cordingley has been remembered for her love of all creatures great and small with a permanent memorial as part of a Port Douglas pet facility’s incredible $1.8m transformation. See how they remembered her.

TOYAH Cordingley has been remembered for her love of all creatures great and small with a permanent memorial as part of a Port Douglas pet facility’s incredible $1.8m transformation.

Close to one hundred people celebrated the opening of the Paws and Claws shelter at Front St after its five-year-long hiatus and were touched to see the way the facility remembered Toyah.

Inside was a mural commemorating Toyah and her love for animals and a plaque situated outside which read she was “still watching over us”.

Toyah Cordingley, who was murdered at Wangetti Beach in October 2018, aged 24. Picture: Facebook.

Ms Cordingley was an “integral employee” of the former Paws and Claws and worked at the shelter for over a year, according to president Michael Kerr.

“She was a very special employee with her love for animals,” he said.

“She’ll always be remembered.”

Last week there was a breakthrough in the case with the Indian Government announcing an

extradition order had been signed ahead of the hopeful arrest of murder suspect Rajwinder Singh.

A Toyah Cordingley memorial plaque outside Port Douglas' new Paws and Claws facility. Picture: Supplied

A Toyah Cordingley mural inside Port Douglas' new Paws and Claws facility. Picture: Supplied

Commemorating Ms Cordingley, the new facility also has the capacity to hold 36 fully grown dogs and is equipped with airconditioning and backups, solar tube lighting, dimmable electric lights and piped classical music — powered by a massive solar power generator.

The funding for the major revamp was secured and contributed by Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch, the board of Cairns Animal Welfare group and state government.

“It’s probably the best in Australia,” said Paws and Claws facility manager Chris Barber.

Port Douglas' Paws and Claws facility manager Chris Barber outside the $1.8m new store. Picture: Supplied

Mr Barber said because the facility was a no-kill shelter, they were picky with dogs they boarded ensuring they were able to rehome them.

“We have seven shelter dogs, one is adopted for November and another adopted this week,” he said.

“It’s swings and roundabouts.”

Mr Kerr said with stage one now complete and the property operational, they could begin work on stage two which would cost another $450,000, signalling it was not over yet.

“The main kitchen and puppy areas are some of the items within stage two,” he said.

“It’s been a very long road, but we are so glad that it is now open, and we can get back to rehoming these animals in our shire rather than sending them elsewhere.”

Originally published as Toyah mural makes debut at new Port Douglas pet facility