Service needs rescuing

Doggie Rescue, the organisation that rehouses unwanted pets, is in desperate need of financial assistance to keep going.

Founder Monika Biernacki said funds had been dwindling thanks to the economic downturn and the increased number of pets being abandoned.

We have done a lot of belt tightening over recent months but I am now at the point where I cannot see a way out and am left with no choice but to close our shelter, Biernacki wrote in a letter to previous helpers.

That’s why I am writing to you today – to personally ask for your help in keeping Doggie Rescue open. I need to raise $75,000 by the end of April to stop our doors having to close.

Since I founded Doggie Rescue 17 years ago, I have tried my best to save as many dogs as I can from death row. The latest figures released for NSW reveal that a shocking 63,651 dogs were killed in the last year ­-” up 11 percent on the year before. And that figure doesn’t include greyhounds.

Over the years, with the amazing help and support from dedicated volunteers and supporters like you, Doggie Rescue has managed to save the lives of nearly 8,500 dogs -” healthy, loving creatures who would otherwise have faced certain death and become a statistic.

The shelter at Ingleside is the best location we have ever had. A lot of people worked very hard to make it as comfortable as possible for the doggies. It feels like it has taken me a lifetime to get here and the prospect of now having to let it all go is just unbearable. The thought of closing breaks my heart.

There goes almost two decades of my life’s work and I just can’t bear to think what will happen to all our little doggies and the fate of those in the pound just waiting to come here.

I am hoping that you can help me keep Doggie Rescue operating to proivde them with a second chance of a happy life.

Everyday we are getting more and more heart-wrenching calls from people wanting to offload their dogs. And the condition of the dogs coming in from the pound is worse than ever. A little Maltese, who we called Periwinkle, came in today weighing only 3.7kg and had more fleas than skin, it looked like pepper had been sprinkled all over his body.

I know that these are tough times for everyone but whatever you can give, regardless of the amount, to help reach our target of $75,000 will be most gratefully received and will help me keep our doors open and save the lives of more doggies just like Periwinkle.

info: If you are able to help, you can donate online at www.DoggieRescue.com, by telephone on 02 9486 3133 or donate by mail to Doggie Rescue,8 Chiltern Rd, Ingleside, NSW 2101. Cheques should be made payable to DoggieRescue.com. You can also help by sponsoring, fostering or adopting a doggie. Visit www.DoggieRescue.com or call for more information.