G'day,
We have been busy since our last post, getting into the areas and speaking with the survivors, we are also working closely with the animal relief centre in King Lake. We have been able to distribute a number of items to those in need including a limited supply of kennels and dog coats.
Below is a post from Lynne Fitzsimmons who is working around the clock in our efforts to help the domestic animals.
Lynne - Imagine getting up in the morning and looking out your window and nothing is recognisable all your familiar points of reference are gone. If you have ever been woken early by a magpie song and been annoyed, imagine what it sounds like when the birds have all gone.
Since the wonderful rain, the weather it is now turning cold. We are getting calls from owners whose dogs are damp, cold and shivering. With no foliage on the trees it is very exposed and the winds can howl through with little to hinder them.
We have stepped up our efforts to source large kennels and coats and have had some wonderful responses but the demand is still high for these products.
On Saturday I was back in King Lake and was able to supply 3 dogs with warm waterproof coats at their home. I dropped off a supply of large trampoline beds at the Animal Relief centre and they are there for people to take, as they need them. The trampoline beds are by far the best option for the larger dogs as it keeps them off the cold damp ground.
Unable to practise as a veterinary service the Emergency Animal Relief Centre headed up by Kate Murray is doing a wonderful job of dispensing advice and providing basic first aid for the animals, animals in need of clinical procedures have to travel down off the mountain.
On Saturday we took up the last large dog kennel that we have and there was a row of brightly painted smaller dog kennels out of the front of the centre. It is gratifying to see these things one day and then notice they are gone a couple of days later as it means they have been taken and a dog somewhere is able to get under cover out of the weather.
We are continuing to discuss with individual survivors what their specific needs are.
This week we have 3 dogs coming into foster care, two of the dogs will need routine vet supplies, all wormer and heart guard, we will assist in transporting them to these services and meeting the financial costs.
Due to the assistance of many volunteers I can report that that in the next couple of days we will have the patterns for dog coats in attachment form that we will be able to forward online to the many sewing groups and the talented individuals that are waiting to make the coats. Thank you to all of the wonderful people busy sewing away.
On Friday we received a request for a dog ramp. There is an elderly lady that is going to be re-housed in a caravan and her long time companion is an aged arthritic large breed dog. He can't step up into a caravan without assistance. I am happy to be able to tell you that one will be taken up for this lady and her dog to use so that they can be together and warm and snug as winter approaches.
Eight designer suits suitable to wear to funerals have kindly been donated by one generous person, they have now been delivered to the Community Resource Centre in King Lake and they will sensitively be dispensed as the need arises.
Luke - As you can see, we are still very busy and working hard in our efforts to help the domestic animals, unfortunately there are areas, which we still haven't been able to get into, but we will continue in our work until the job is done. Thank you to every one who is supporting us, your support is invaluable and we couldn't continue to do the work we do with out your assistance. Tomorrow (Friday) we are heading back in to the fire districts, so we will post again over the weekend.
Luke Williams
Fun4Paws
