Saving dogs from death row: Founder of Dog Rescue Newcastle tells her story
When Sue Barker moved to Lake Macquarie in 2008 she founded Dog Rescue Newcastle after seeing there was a high kill rate in the region’s pounds. Since then she has saved more than eight thousand dogs and cats and continues to find them loving homes across the Hunter.
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Who are you?
Sue Barker, President of Dog Rescue Newcastle.
When did you start Dog Rescue Newcastle?
I have been rescuing animals, mainly dogs, all of my adult life. When I moved from Port Macquarie to Lake Macquarie in 2008, I started Dog Rescue Newcastle. I saw that there was a very high kill rate in the region's pounds and those dogs needed help. This area needed a rescue group to save the dogs and buy them the extra time they needed to find suitable homes. There was also a need for us to save dogs that needed veterinary care and training that pounds aren't equipped to give. A few years after we began, we started to rescue cats too, but our focus today is again mainly dogs.
How many dogs since then have you rehomed?
Dog Rescue Newcastle has rescued more than 8500 animals in 10.5 years. Approximately 7650 dogs and 850 cats.
T ell us about what you do?
We rescue dogs mainly from death row in pounds. We have a good relationship with many pounds in our region. They contact us, or our volunteers go to the pounds, to find out what dogs are in danger of being euthanised to make space. We also accept some private surrenders from people who are unable to keep their dogs for many reasons.
Once the dog arrives at the foster carer's home, the foster carer gives the dog flea and worm treatments and food provided by DRN. They are given a bath or go to the groomer. The first night in a foster home the dog has a long, deep sleep in a comfortable bed in a caring home for the first time in many weeks, sometimes the first time in his life, and begins to recover from the scary pound experience.
We make an appointment for the dog to go to a vet for a health check, vaccination and desexing.
The foster carer begins house training and some basic manners training.
We put the dog's photos and detailed description on our website https://www.dogrescuenewcastle.com.au and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DogRescueNewcastle/. People who are looking for a new companion can see all of our available dogs and cats and can apply to adopt them.
All our dogs start out in their new home on a two week trial. If they are returned during that period the adopters get a refund.
If for any reason the adoptive family can no longer keep the dog, even years later we will always take them back. We never want any of our dogs to ever wind up in a pound ever again.
Do you require funding?
Our vet bills are many thousands of dollars each month. We charge a small adoption fee for our animals but that doesn't cover our costs. We need to receive donations from the community and do fundraising to make up for the shortfall.
We are a not-for-profit organisation and donations to DRN are tax deductible. We depend entirely on help from caring people in our community to help us take good care of our dogs and cats.
Do you have a lot of community support?
The people of the Hunter have been very supportive and generous. They care about the dogs in need in their community and they support us by donating, sponsoring, adopting, fostering and volunteering. Some community groups collect donations of pet food and other supplies for us. Some businesses allow us to have a dog food donation bins and coin donation boxes in their stores where people can make donations. We couldn't do anything without the wonderful community support that we receive.
Do you have a lot of volunteers?
number of foster carers approx. 180
number of other volunteers approx. 120
Our oldest volunteer is Maud Styles, she will be 99 years old in November and has been knitting beautiful dog coats and blankets for our dogs since we began.
How many dogs are you at the moment looking for homes?
Number of dogs currently in care — 110, this includes dogs in palliative care/long term care — 40
Number of dogs currently available for adoption — 46
Number of cats in care, approximately 20, this includes cats in palliative care/long term care — 15
Number of cats currently available for adoption — 4.
We don't just rescue the young, cute, and small dogs. We also rescue the old, injured and ill dogs and give them all the vet work they need, often at great expense. We don't have a time limit on dogs. They can stay with us for as long as it takes for them to be healthy and find their forever homes.
We have a palliative and long-term care program. Pets that are not suitable for adoption due to age, health or behavioural issues remain with their foster carer for life. We have approximately 40 dogs and more than 15 cats that will stay with us permanently.
DRN pays for all their expenses so they can live out their lives with security, health care and lots of love. These special needs dogs and cats are available for Sponsorship to help us pay for their vet expenses.
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