Kitt Kat Care animal rescue founder thanks social media users for helping rescue two dogs
People from all over the world credited with saving two dogs thanks to the power of social media.
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A Gold Coast animal rescue has credited the power of social media as contributing to the surrender of two poorly-looking dogs from a private home in Chinchilla.
A photo of a dog with its rib cage showing posted to Kitt Kat Care’s Facebook page overnight Tuesday rapidly received thousands of comments and shares from outraged animal lovers around the world.
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By late Wednesday, the Chinchilla Police Station had been inundated with hundreds of calls from around the country with complaints about the condition of the dog.
Police also had to request people to stay away from the home where the dog lived after the address was posted in comments under the photo.
The dog, Duke, and another dog from the same property in similar condition, have now been to a veterinarian and arrived on the Gold Coast.
Kitt Kat Care’s founder, Mika Dargie, drove 740km round trip Thursday to pick up Duke and Fern.
She said the boys had skin wounds, parasites, deranged bloods, scars and body scores of one out of five.
A low body score is often given to animals that are skinny or emaciated.
Both dogs each weigh 23.3kg and have started treatment for parasite and flea infestations.
Miss Dargie, 27, said social media and a “guardian angel” all contributed to the successful rescue of the mixed breeds.
“On Tuesday we saw a photo of a dog that needed our help. We shared begging for locals to help us save the dog,” she said.
“Social media proved that there are rescues who pretend to help but sit back and do nothing, and there are rescues willing to drive 740km to get an animal safe.”
Miss Dargie said the Facebook post succeeded in getting in touch with an unrelated Chinchilla resident who assisted with both the dogs and children who were at the house at the time.
“Social media brought us a guardian angel who helped, not only us getting the dogs to the local Chinchilla vet but watched over the welfare of the children,” she said.
“If we didn’t ask for help, we wouldn’t have been handed it and I don’t believe any of this would have been possible in a time frame where Duke would have survived.”
Miss Dargie said the volunteers liaised with Chinchilla police, the RSPCA and Biosecurity Queensland for legal guidance on how to save Duke, with the dog’s owners agreeing to surrender him.
“The family felt it was best to surrender a second dog, Fern, as well which we were happy to oblige with,” she said.
She said the owner of the dogs worked with the rescue to see the best for Duke and Fern.
“They worked with us every step of the way and they loved their dogs so much, they were willing to see them get the care they needed while they took care of their own family,” she wrote on Facebook.
Miss Dargie said she was proud her small rescue group was able to save two dogs in another area within two days, thanks to the assistance of social media.
“I’m proud to say this small rescue on the Gold coast managed to hear, act and save two dogs all the way out in Chinchilla within 48 hours,” she said.
Miss Dargie said the round trip was worth it.
“Having Duke rest his head on my shoulder in the car was thank you enough,” she said.
“He even mustered up the energy to do a little tail wag.
“These boys are now safe thanks to us and the public for sharing, supporting and helping.”
Two other dogs in good condition were left at the Chinchilla home.
The RSPCA do not have inspectors as far as Chinchilla, so the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
A Biosecurity Queensland spokesman said inspectors assessed a number of dogs at a Chinchilla address on Wednesday and ensured that immediate animal welfare issues had been addressed.
“The dogs are being fed and watered appropriately,” he said.
“We will continue to monitor the care of the dogs and work with the owner.”
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