We’ve awarded Willow Tree Sanctuary with a grant for $25,000 to go towards purchasing this vehicle, and along with the support of the Petbarn Foundation will be helping them get over 400 extra puppies and dogs to safety each year.
In three short years the rescue network of Willow Tree has expanded exponentially to rescue and rehabilitate dogs from pounds and shelters in far northern NSW to a geographical area that runs from Mt Isa, Cairns, down to Canberra and out to Cobar in distant western NSW, and everywhere in between. They reach dogs in danger across hundreds of thousands of square kilometres and have identified that the areas that dogs need rescuing the most are located in remote and regional areas. These areas are the hardest to access due to limited runs offered by transport companies and without affordable and accessible transport, the most vulnerable and isolated dogs are being left behind and are being euthanised at an alarming rate.
When the team at Willow Tree Sanctuary applied for a grant they told us about Nelly, a heavily pregnant dog, located in a remote pound. “For the past four weeks we have been desperately trying to organise transport for Nelly before she gives birth on the cold cement floor of the pound which we know will greatly increase the mortality of Nelly’s pups. We have reached out to 10 different transport providers. Due to capacity issues, only two have responded and said they will transport, but not for the next two weeks and the cost will be over $1000. There is a high risk Nelly would have birthed within this two week period so it is a race against time at this point. The sad reality is, even though we have carers for this dog, Nelly and her pups may not make it simply because we can’t reach her in time, and there are many more we have had to say no to because we can’t get transport to them or can’t afford what the transport providers are charging.”
They explained that a transport vehicle of their own would mean that they could eliminate the use of third-party transport providers which would significantly decrease the cost of saving dogs in regional and remote areas and would allow them to increase the number of dogs they save.
Willow Tree Sanctuary anticipate doing 1 regional pound run a week with the Willow Tree van, allowing them to save at least 8 extra dogs per week, with the potential to save more if they are puppies and small breed dogs. The rescue have built strong connections with various remote pounds and feel very confident they will hold dogs for them on a weekly basis instead of euthanising at such a high rate.
In addition the van will be used to transport dogs that need moving up and down the East coast as they expand and take on foster carers from the NSW/VIC border up to the Sunshine Coast in QLD.
Willow Tree will also use the van to support the wider rescue community by transporting dogs for other rescues from these remote and regional pounds, at a cost only to cover running costs, if they have room on runs.
We’re really excited to let you know that Willow Tree have already purchased their van and she hasn’t wasted any time making a number of important saves while she awaits her full makeover and fit out!
You can find Willow Tree Sanctuary’s adoptables here on Adopt-A-Dog: https://www.savour-life.com.au/adopt-a-dog/rescue-groups/118341/Willow-Tree-Sanctuary
