RSPCA Give to Get Them Home campaign starts nationwide at 5am tomorrow
It was uncertain if a young dog found emaciated and flea-ridden in Seaford six months ago would survive, but this dog - named Woozy by his adoring new owner - is now testament to the difference timely vet care can make to an animal's life.
Woozy's vet care (and subsequent general care and behaviour work) was all made possible by donations from animal lovers to RSPCA South Australia.
Tomorrow the charity is calling on the South Australian community to dig deep for the one-day only, nationwide RSPCA Give to Get Them Home appeal. From 5am until midnight tomorrow, every donation will be doubled thanks to dollar-matching partners Peter Alexander, Elanco, Royal Canin, Hickinbotham Homes and generous individual donors.
The appeal is timed to boost funds ahead of RSPCA SA's busiest time of the year, with more than 2,500 animals expected to come through its Lonsdale, Whyalla and Port Lincoln shelters over the next three months. According to RSPCA SA CEO Marcus Gehrig, Woozy is a typical example of how the charity uses donated dollars to make a real difference in an animal's life.
"When Woozy arrived he was profoundly stressed and just skin and bone," Marcus said.
"On top of this, he had one of the worst cases of flea infestation our vets have ever seen - this poor dog was literally being sucked to death."
The RSPCA vet team had major concerns that Woozy had an underlying chronic condition because for the first few weeks he failed to gain any weight. A series of blood tests revealed that he was anaemic due to his massive flea burden. Combined with poor nutrition for an extended period, possibly since birth, the 18-month-old cross-breed was suffering such a serious iron deficiency that it took three months before he reached a healthy weight.
By the end of August, Woozy weighed 34kg, 10kg more than he weighed when he first arrived at RSPCA's Lonsdale shelter. Concurrent with the recovery of his physical health were improvements in his psychological health, assisted by medications, behaviour work and several weeks in the loving care of an experienced RSPCA foster volunteer.
Despite endearing himself to the RSPCA staff and volunteers looking after him, Woozy spent over 100 days in RSPCA's care. Perhaps because he's a big boy with a lot of energy, he was being overlooked by people coming to the shelter to adopt a dog. This was until one Tuesday morning last month, when Craig Schultz made a 50km trek across town from his home in Salisbury East to meet Woozy.
"I saw him online and he looked similar to my previous three dogs, though he's smarter than the last one," Craig said.
"He was an angel on the way home, and though he was a bit nervous when he first entered the house, he's now taken over.
"We took things very slowly, as the RSPCA people told us to do, but he's such a quick learner he picked up on all our routines really quickly and is super relaxed now - he loves being on the couch with me.
"He's simply an amazing dog and I'm so grateful to the RSPCA team who took him in when he needed so much help. Thanks to them, Woozy's been given a second chance and I've found my perfect match."
Donations during the one-day appeal can be made online at https://www.rspcagivingday.com/sa or via telephone on 1300 777 221.
(In order to be doubled, donations must be made via the appeal's dedicated website.)
The appeal begins tomorrow – Thursday October 5 - at 5am and ends at midnight.
