Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue overwhelmed after impassioned plea goes viral

A heartbreaking image of Remy, a frightened, mange-infested pup whose time at a council-run pound was running out, has sparked an outpouring across Australia after he was taken in by a group of Qld animal warriors.

Remy was saved from "death row" at a council-run pound and has been taken in by a group of Bowen animal warriors. A heartbreaking post about his plight has gone viral and raised more than double needed for his surgery.

Things are looking up for a “heavily traumatised” pup whose heartbreaking image has gone viral as offers of support and help flood in from across Australia.

Whitsunday region animal carers, who saved the white bull terrier named Remy from “death row” at a council-run pound, have been able to raise more than twice the funds needed for surgery to improve his quality of life.

This has also prompted renewed calls from the animal care watchdog.

The president of Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue said five-month-old Remy came into their care in early January.

“It was very obvious he was heavily traumatised and had been abused,” she said.

“He hadn’t received and veterinary care, had not microchip.”

There is no suggest the mistreatment and neglect occurred at the pound.

The woman, who requested her identity remain anonymous because of the nature of her work with animals, said Remy had mange covering the majority of his body, with the infection to severe he was in pain walking.

He also had an eye infection and feared humans.

Remy was saved from "death row" at a council-run pound and has been taken in by a group of Bowen animal warriors.

She said his condition was absolutely heartbreaking, adding she felt “complete rage at how someone could let him get that way”.

With not enough money in the volunteer-run organisation coffers to fund his treatment, they put a call out on social media.

“Due to our dwindling funds, we cannot afford to pay for his surgery. We are desperately asking for donations towards Remy’s surgery,” they wrote.

And an “unbelievable” amount of help came flooding in.

“It is overwhelming,” she said – about $2500 was needed for surgery to Remy’s back legs and the organisation was able to raise almost double that in less than 24 hours.

A heartbreaking post about his plight has gone viral and raised more than double needed for his surgery.

In fact, she said it was more than the organisation currently had in their bank account “which is why we are so overwhelmed with gratitude to the public for their donations”.

“We’ve even had multiple rescue organisations from all over Australia reach out to us as well … asking what can we do to help.”

She said only four people made up Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue and they were basically on call 24/7, responding to animals in need on top of their employment and family commitments.

“We do it because we love it,” she said, adding there was no other service in the area and no animal shelter.

But they are only able to rescue animals if they had enough money to pay for any vet bills.

“If we have no money in the bank, we cannot physically take more animals because of our financial restrictions,” she said.

Remy was now doing “much better”, living with a foster carer as he recovered before looking for his forever home.

The four also relied of their network of foster carers to temporarily house animals waiting on a forever home.

“We do try to have a pool of foster carers,” she said, adding sometimes there was no one available so they would put a callout on social media and hope for the kindness of strangers.

Remy was with one of these foster carers now and doing “much better”. His eye infection had cleared up, he was receiving treatment for the mange and there was now enough money for his surgery.

An RSPCA spokeswoman confirmed this matter has not been reported to the Inspector.

She said rescue groups played a crucial role in rehabilitation and rehoming but added that any serious welfare issues must be reported through official channels to ensure a thorough investigation and proper action.

“By ensuring these matters are reported directly to the RSPCA, we can allocate the appropriate resources, including trained Inspectors, to properly investigate the situation,” an RSPCA spokeswoman said.

Originally published as Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue overwhelmed after impassioned plea goes viral