National Foster a Pet Month recognised by Townsville Foster and Rehoming Animals
For the volunteers at Townsville Foster and Rehoming Animals, the level of care required can be immense, but so can the rewards.
Townsville
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Townsville Foster and Rehoming Animals is looking ahead towards a big future as they prepare to take on an influx of abandoned animals this month.
Director of Townsville Foster and Rehoming Animals, Angela Atkinson said people can gain a lot from fostering animals, as the organisation recognises National Adopt a Pet Month.
“You’re giving back to animals that need somewhere safe to stay while they find their right home,” she said.
Statistics released by the RSPCA show that over 81,000 animals were received by the organisation in the 2023/24 financial year. In Queensland, almost 44,000 animals were received by the RSPCA.
Ms Atkinson started Townsville Fostering and Rehoming Animals 14 years ago as she saw the need for another rescue or shelter.
“When I started all that was in town was the RSPCA which was at the council-run shelter,” she said.
“There was a lot of not only homelessness in Townsville but there was also a lot of domestic violence and things like that and I saw that there was a need in the community to be a safe haven for animals no matter their situation.”
While fostering animals can be rewarding, there are also challenges, with Ms Atkinson readily acknowledging it’s not for everyone.
“The drawbacks for me to continue to do it are my health because I see a lot of things a lot of people shouldn’t see,” she said.
“The other drawback is falling in love with something and it leaving of course, and you finding a home but you have that separation of losing that animal.”
There are times when animals will come into foster care through what some might call a ‘normal situation,’ but there are times the animal comes through different circumstances.
“Sometimes we get animals from a domestic violence situation, or a murder crime scene,” Ms Atkinson said.
“Something like that where an animal’s been left behind after someone has died.”
If an animal comes in through one of those means, Ms Atkinson said they can require extra levels of support.
“For someone wanting to take on that role would be the animals that come in and they’re really broken and they need that extra time and love and care before they’re ready to go.”
Looking to the future of the rescue organisation, Ms Atkinson would like to build a disaster facility on five to ten acres that also doubles as an animal shelter.
The facility would be used for education, rehabilitation and dog training, and to also help the Townsville City Council shelter during weather events.
“When their shelter floods and you can’t get in, they’ve got back-up as well for the animals that are displaced.” Ms Atkinson said.
“They can’t always facilitate getting them into their shelter because of flooding, and so I would love to be their back-up.”
To find out more about Townsville Fostering and Rehoming Animals, visit their website.
Originally published as National Foster a Pet Month recognised by Townsville Foster and Rehoming Animals
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