Geelong Addy’s Strays of Christmas find forever homes
As the festive season wraps up, spirits remain high for some strays who found their forever homes after featuring in the Addy’s 12 Strays of Christmas.
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The festive season was especially jolly for 11-year-old stray Eve, who was one of six strays to find her forever home after featuring in the Geelong Addy’s 12 Strays of Christmas campaign.
Torquay resident Anna Ross and her daughter Lucie have welcomed Eve into their home after losing their Russian blue a few years ago.
Ms Ross said they were immediately taken by Eve’s presence and couldn’t bare to leave her after a meet and greet at Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) just before Christmas.
“Eve has settled in perfectly,” she said.
“Within an hour of arriving at her forever home, she was rolling around on the carpet and completely stretched out enjoying the space.
“She jumps up all by herself on my bed, where she spends and sleeps the whole night.”
Ms Ross hopes Eve will enjoy a nice retirement by the seaside.
“Eve has a special place in the lounge that she likes to sit and look out the window and watch the trees move,” she said.
Other pets adopted following the 12 Strays of Christmas appeal included pups Oscar and Diesel and cats Callum, Mittens and Poppy.
GAWS has launched its 2024 Christmas Appeal, which includes a crowd-funding initiative to purchase items including a surgical table and lights, foster care starter packs, water misters for dogs, outdoor cat enclosures and anti-anxiety beds for cats.
Last year, 3383 animals came into GAWS’ care including 1943 cats and 1263 dogs.
GAWS chief executive Helen Cocks said it costs an average of $65 a day per animal to cover essentials and hopes the community can support the not-for-profit organisation through its Christmas Appeal.
“We are thrilled to provide people a special opportunity to make wishes come true for the animals at GAWS,” she said.
“By donating towards an item from our Christmas wishlist, you will help us acquire essential items that will directly benefit the animals.
“Every contribution, no matter the amount, brings us closer to purchasing each item.”
Ms Cocks said the GAWS vet clinic conducted 7240 consultations and thousands of procedures last year.
“We hope to acquire the funds to purchase a new surgical table and lighting system so our vet team can perform more intricate surgeries and increase the number of surgeries on large dogs,” she said.
“We are so thankful for our generous donors who will help our canines feel cooler this summer with the water misters, our felines experience freedom with the large outdoor enclosure and our timid cats feel calm in the anti-anxiety beds.”
While GAWS set an initial target of $30,000 for its 2024 Christmas Appeal, more than $54,000 has been raised so far.
For more information or to donate, visit gaws.org.au/christmas-appeal-2024.
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Originally published as Geelong Addy’s Strays of Christmas find forever homes
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