Geelong Animal Welfare Society launches rescue effort after woman surrenders 67 dogs

Animal welfare workers were shocked when a woman arrived unannounced with carloads of severely neglected dogs – including 45 animals in a single trip – triggering an emergency response across Victoria.

The Geelong Animal Welfare Society was thrown into chaos when 67 dogs in a poor condition arrived at the beginning of July. Picture: Supplied

A woman has surrendered 67 “starving and wounded” dogs to the Geelong Animal Welfare Society, triggering a state-wide rescue effort.

The woman arrived at the shelter earlier this month with 45 dogs packed into her car.

GAWS operation manager Jess Lynn said the woman arrived again the next day with another 22 dogs.

She also surrendered six cats.

Ms Lynn said it was a highly stressful time for the GAWS team, which was given no warning before the arrival of the animals.

“It was very, very challenging,” Ms Lynn said.

The Geelong Animal Welfare Society was thrown into chaos when 67 dogs in a poor condition arrived at the beginning of July. Picture: Supplied

“We’ve only got the capacity to hold so many animals.”

Due to the severity of the situation, GAWS contacted the RSPCA and Geelong council’s animal-management team.

Ms Lynn said both organisations helped care for and treat the dogs who were “in a bad condition”.

The RSPCA took 30 dogs to rehome, and the rest remained with GAWS, who reached out to multiple rescue organisations – some as far away as Horsham – to help.

A post to Facebook from Starting Over Dog Rescue – which took 19 of the animals – revealed the dogs were “all in the same appalling state” when they arrived at the shelter.

“Starved, covered in wounds, missing fur, and carrying the heavy weight of neglect,” they wrote.

One of the dogs surrendered was pregnant, and gave birth within hours of arriving to the shelter. Picture: Starting Over Dog Resue

“They lived in filth, surrounded by a stench too awful to describe. There was nowhere clean to lie down. Just cold, wet floors soaked in urine and faeces. No fresh air.”

RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michelle Green said it would take “weeks, if not months” of rehabilitation and specialised veterinary care for the dogs to recover.

“It’s clear some people are struggling to provide the basics for their animals, and we urge people not to wait until they are suffering like this before seeking assistance from us, local vets or their local council,” she said.

A woman has surrendered 68 “starving and wounded” dogs to the Geelong Animal Welfare Society. Picture: Starting Over Dog Resue

RSPCA Victoria’s inspectors rescued 131 animals across the state at the start of July.

The largest and most complex operation saw a team of five inspectors assess nearly 200 horses.

This culminated in the surrender of nearly 60 of the most at-risk, which were removed from a Towong Shire property over several days.

Originally published as Geelong Animal Welfare Society launches rescue effort after woman surrenders 67 dogs