Gold Coast animal charity forced to close shops as crowds gather for the Commonwealth Games

THE Gold Coast Animal Welfare League shelter has sent an SOS message with the upcoming Commonwealth Games forcing the closures of their charity shops and loss of $50k.

Cookie, the eight year old Silky Terrier cross, and Rachel Wills get ready to close the doors. Picture Glenn Hampson

A GOLD Coast animal charity fears it will lose up to $50,000 during the Commonwealth Games.

The Animal Welfare League has made the difficult decision to close four charity shops due to access and delivery issues during the Games.

AWLQ will close stores in Southport, Currumbin, Miami, and Labrador for 12 days.

AWLQ executive assistant Rachel Wills said closing the shops would hurt, but a drop in adoptions could be a bigger issue.

“This is a decision we’ve taken because our staff is run on a volunteer basis and with road closures our volunteers find it difficult to make it to the shops,” she said.

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Rachel Wills prepares to close the doors. Picture Glenn Hampson

“If the public can’t come and adopt then the animals will be directly affected.

“The greatest impact this will have on the animals is that people will not come in to adopt because of the road closures.

“We’re at max capacity for our cats and kittens (75) and really need those two weeks for adoption.”

“We are putting on a big jumble sale, to at least cover the cost of the rent for the shops we have to close.”

The sale is on today at the Gold Coast Rehoming Centre on Shelter Rd, Coombabah from 7am to 4pm.

Ms Wills said she hoped Gold Coasters would consider adopting while at the shelter.

For more visit www.awlqld.com.au