MEDIA RELEASE

FRIENDS OF THE POUND – TWEED INC.

8th JULY,2005

Local volunteer organisation Friends of the Pound - Tweed Inc. are seeking help in obtaining their own rehoming centre and base. Currently the volunteers work at the pound 365 days a year and also rescue dogs and cats from the pound and place them with foster carers until suitable homes can be found. Hundreds of animals’ lives have been saved due to the hardworking efforts of Friends of the Pound volunteers.

The group have set a target of $500,000 to reach their vision of having their own facility.
If 500 people were prepared to donate $1,000 each their dream could become a reality. Whilst this amount may not be affordable to some individuals, the group is seeking donations of any kind to help in their quest to obtain suitable land, and associated buildings, kennels, fencing etc.

Friends of the Pound formed 5 years ago because there was no organisation helping the hundreds of animals that were being destroyed each year at the Tweed Shire Pound. The volunteer group has gone from strength to strength and now provide a volunteer workforce of 3 people at the pound every day of the year. There is a huge and constant demand for the group’s services and currently they are very restricted in the numbers of animals they can save due to not having their own facility and being dependent on volunteers to come forward and look after animals in their own homes.

The reality of having their own centre would enable the group to rescue more animals and save them from suffering and destruction. At the moment volunteers’ homes are being turned into offices, storage spaces, training, nursery and convalescing areas and dogs and cats are transported all over the Tweed (and further) in an effort to save them. Apart from saving many more lives, having a base of their own would conserve many volunteer hours, and resources, and would also enable the group to showcase the animals looking for new homes in the one location - dogs would also receive basic obedience training before going to their new homes. The facility would be a base to promote responsible pet ownership and animal welfare in the community.

A centre such as this would be a huge asset to the welfare of dogs and cats in the Tweed Shire. If you are able to donate money, property or help in any way Friends of the Pound would like to hear from you. A paved path will be built to acknowledge individual supporters and recognition given to businesses who help Friends of the Pound to achieve their aim. Buy a paver and immortalize yourelf. Please phone Friends of the Pound President Pam Price on (02)6676 0078 or Joan Eccleshare on (02)6677 9294 if you can help.