Mackay woman Dawn Rowan spends $35,000 to rehome the regions animals

Mackay celebrates four years of no rehomeable dogs being put down, thanks to new strategies, hard workers and generous animal advocates.

Dawn Rowan doesn’t represent any animal welfare organisation, rather she says she is the voice for all animals.

The Mackay woman’s love of animals has meant she used more than $35,000 of her own money to ensure pets are properly rehomed.

She said she has always been an animal advocate spending her childhood on a sheep and cattle farm with her father.

“I remember him trying to control a horse in hobbles, and he took out a whip and cracked it,” she said.

“I went and pulled the whip out of my father's hand and threw it, and took off as fast as I could.

“I don’t think there was ever a time when I wasn’t passionate about animals.”

Mrs Rowan said she wrote to the paper and challenged the incoming Mayor to fix the problem. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Mrs Rowan moved to Mackay nine years ago and was “shocked” at the state of animal shelters in the region.

“The number of animals being put to sleep, it was just appalling,” she said.

Mrs Rowan said she wrote to the Daily Mercury and challenged the incoming mayor to fix the problem.

“Greg was then elected, and he was one of the first mayors to actually come and visit the pound,” she said.

Today Mrs Rowan celebrated a huge milestone in Mackay’s animal welfare with Mayor Greg Williamson himself.

“July 7 has marked four years in our animal management centre since the last dog was put down that could not be rehomed,” Cr Williamson said.

Cr Williamson said it had also been two years since a rehomeable cat had been euthanised.

He said the ‘remarkable’ outcome was because of a decrease in fees for rehoming and desexing. Picture: Lillian Watkins

He said the “remarkable” outcome was because of a decrease in fees for rehoming and desexing animals and the hard work of the community.

“Our staff have been absolutely outstanding in this, but it also could not have been done without community organisations and individuals.”