‘They use them as crab bait’: Mackay Pet Rescue volunteers reveal rescue horror

Dedicated Qld pet rescuers have revealed the shocking threats they face trying to keep cats and dogs off death row and out of cruel hands as abandonments increase.

When Pam Ciszewski first began animal foster caring more than seven years ago, she was warned she might see the worst of humanity.

“A carer before me went and picked up four dogs from a house in Brisbane and they chopped the head off one of them,” she said.

Others have threatened to put kittens “in a crab pot as bait” if a rescuer doesn’t show “because that’s all they’re worth”.

Ms Ciszewski works as a full-time nurse, but like many of the 36 foster carers and 21 volunteers at Mackay Pet Rescue, she dedicates nearly all of her spare time to animals — often 30 hours a week.

She owns four pets herself, one of them a three-year-old dog rescued from a cane paddock at 14 weeks old who still suffers from the trauma of her abuse.

“She is never going to be rehomed by anyone but me because she just does not trust anybody,” she said.

Pam Ciszewski said burnout in the industry was common. Photo: Luke Lay

“These are the things that carers have to deal with.”

The not-for-profit organisation is one of several groups in the Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac regions rescuing cats and dogs on death row and connecting them with foster carers and forever homes amid an influx of stray pets.

This year alone, they rescued up to 327 cats and kittens and 29 dogs around Mackay, and over 1500 pets since they began operations in 2021.

Secretary of Mackay Pet Rescue, Janet Ambrose said around 50 per cent of pets brought into their care come as a result of people falling into homelessness, or having nowhere to go as their rental forbids pets.

Ms Ambrose said the number is definitely increasing.

Without a sanctuary and with little support, it’s leaving carers like Ms Ciszewski to carry the burden.

“They will always take that animal where they can,” she said.

“If it’s a difficult decision, nobody wants to say no. They’re taking up the responsibility of the public.”

It’s left many carers experiencing heavy burnout, and on the brink.

Ms Ciszewski said she had to take a break for the first time in seven years “because emotionally I couldn’t handle what was on my plate”.

Mackay Pet Rescue is offering $50 vouchers for cats to get desexed at Northern Beaches Vet Hospital. Picture: Renae Gordon

“We want people to think twice about dumping that animal in the bush.

“We’ll do the best we can.

“We’re full and that’s because there’s a general lack of support for rescue groups,” Ms Ambrose said.

The organisation has also taken steps to curb pet populations themselves by introducing desexing vouchers charging owners $50 instead of $400 for cats and $800 for dogs.

But after almost eight months from rolling out the first batch of vouchers, only around half had been taken up.

Ms Ciszewski said adopting from a pet rescue organisation saves responsible pet owners hundreds in vaccination, microchipping and desexing costs.

“There’s no such thing as a free cat,” she said.

Mackay Regional Council stepped up its enforcement efforts for cats and dogs in 2024, giving staff the ability to enter yards with the permission of homeowners to ensure they were registering their pets.

As a result, there was a significant increase in dog and cat registrations, including more than 400 registered during October 2024, a recent council meeting heard.

The RSPCA said it had not received any cruelty complaints relating to cats being used in crab pots in the region.

“However, anyone with information can contact the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL, as eye witness reports will be investigated,” a spokeswoman said.

“Cats being placed alive into crab ports, or the act of killing a cat to use as bait, both constitute an offence and can result in animal cruelty charges.

The act of using deceased animals as crab bait, while disturbing, is not an offence under the Animal Care and Protection Act.”

Mackay Pet Rescue organisers said donations are welcome.

Originally published as ‘They use them as crab bait’: Mackay Pet Rescue volunteers reveal rescue horror