One of the over 750 dogs and puppies rescued and rehomed by Wally’s Doggie Rescue in Parkes over the past three years.
No one knew when Wally’s Doggie Rescue signed on their first foster carer in Parkes three years ago just how much need there was in the Central West for dog rescue.
Cathy Arman, who established Wally’s on the Central Coast almost 15 years ago before she moved to Parkes, started with the occasional long-term foster dog.
Her daily motto was ‘build it they are coming’, and today Wally’s has nine large secure dog pens, three 1.8m high fenced exercise yards and a 2.4m high security exercise yard.
Dogs of all ages and sizes have been fostered in Parkes over the last three years on their way to their forever homes and a few mums have had their last litter in care before being de-sexed and finding their very own homes.
The oldest foster Teddy celebrated his 17th birthday as a permanent retiree foster weighing in at 4kg, and Thor, who weighs in at 64kg, the biggest boy who came into care.
Over 750 puppies and dogs have passed through Parkes, eating around 100kg of dog food a week.
HELPING HAND
Cathy started noticing a high number of working breed dogs at pounds, and put two and two together that the drought was taking its toll on dog ownership. She wanted to help and contacted her friends at Pet Rescue.
Mars Pet Foods in Bathurst quickly responded to Pet Rescue’s request for help and donated over 30 pallets of dog and cat food.
Logistics of storage and distribution had to be organised and without thinking twice, David Potts of Parkes Brick and Pavers put his hand up to help out. “Everyone else who was asked all jumped on board, including SCT Logistics, Georgie’s Pantry, Tommy’s Hay Run and lots of locals from townships in the Central West. Everyone helped to get the food out to where it was needed most,” said Cathy.
Mars Pet Foods donated pallets a second time approaching Wally’s Doggie Rescue to help out fire affected areas too. The distribution network grew quickly with David Potts’s connections, the local Farmers Federation members and Lions Clubs throughout the state to ensure over 100 pallets of top-quality pet food reached eve- ry corner of the state.
RESCUE
Wally’s has a good working relationship with many pounds in NSW and focuses on dogs that are critical on put to sleep (PTS) lists. Wally’s works closely with Orange Council and recently Molong Council, with a large reduction in their PTS rates. The aim is to also establish a working relationship with Parkes Council.
For more information go to Wally’s Doggie Rescue on Facebook or find dogs available for adoption on www.petrescue.com.au