RSPCA Stories
By participating and online fundraising for Cupcake Day for the RSPCA, you are making a direct difference to the lives of the tens of thousands of surrendered, abandoned and neglected animals that come to the RSPCA each year.
The following stories are just a small snapshot of the lives that have changed thanks to your support of the RSPCA.
Sugars Story
Experienced RSPCA Inspectors were shocked when they saw Sugar. She was so thin that every bone in her body was visible, and she scoured the back yard looking for something to eat – Sugar was starving to death.
After speaking with the owner, she agreed to immediately surrender Sugar into the care of the RSPCA, where she would receive immediate veterinary attention.
Once at the RSPCA Clinic, Sugar was found to weigh just 6.2kgs – less than half of what a dog her size should weigh. As she was examined, it became obvious to veterinary staff that Sugar had been the victim of extreme neglect.
Sugar spent the next month with the RSPCA, gaining weight and recovering from the many complications that came with being so malnourished and underweight. Her fur that had started to fall out began to grow back, and she gained more than 6kgs – Sugar was now double the weight she was when she arrived.
After experiencing such neglect, Sugar soon found herself in the arms of her loving new owner, where she now gets to experience the very best life has to offer – and it’s all thanks to the generous support of our Animal Ambassadors.
Rocksys Story
The call came into the RSPCA – a dog was reportedly An RSPCA Inspector was sent to the scene and discovered an underweight eight-month-old Boxer dog tied to a tree in a park beside the Green Valley Shopping Centre.
Initially known as Tessa, it is believed she was dumped the very same day the call came through to the RSPCA. The puppy was so sick and riddled with mange mites when she was brought into the clinic that rescuers feared for her life. She was treated at the RSPCA Sydney Veterinary Hospital for intense irritation and discomfort from mange which covered parts of her face and body.
Tessas story captured the local media and a number of publications ran stories on the the pup. It was then that Michael Holding first laid eyes on a picture of Tessa, the unfortunate hound was scrawny, mangy and had a face only a mother could love. But he thought she was “magnificent”.
Taking an instant shine to the pup, the Holdings immediately contacted the RSPCA. “After being pet free for six years and never wanting another one, Michael said ‘I want that dog’,” Mrs Holding explained.
“We rang the RSPCA in Sydney and spoke to David O’Shannessy, the chief inspector, to express our interest in having her. “Unfortunately she was in a very bad way, he didn’t hold much chance of her surviving but he promised to ring us if she became available for adoption.”
A month later they got the call to say she’d been cured of the skin disease. We then decided it was our duty to drop her off in Coffs Harbour.
“After seeing her on Sunday, she was immediately in our car and on her way home to our place,” Mrs Holding said. “It’s not until you get involved with the RSPCA that you see what goes on behind the scenes and what caring and compassionate people work there.”
To her proud owners, she is known as the princess – proof that beauty really is only skin deep.
Mokos story
This brindle mixed breed dog is an inspiration to all at the RSPCA. The Society undertook a lengthy court case on Moko’s behalf after she was discovered by an RSPCA Inspector. She was found near death lying in a gutter. After many long months of rehabilitation at the Fairfield refuge, Moko was ready to go to a new home. She then began her long wait for someone special.
At first, she was excited when visitors paused at her pen. As the months dragged on, Moko’s disappointment turned to resignation and she barely bothered to look up when anyone passed by. This was heartbreaking for RSPCA staff and volunteers. She spent eight months in the adoption pens, before a young lady called Lynn finally stepped in to Moko’s life. Lynn remembered seeing Moko’s photo in a newspaper last year.
“I thought she was absolutely gorgeous,” she said. “When I came to the refuge that day, I was surprised to see Moko was still there. I thought she was even more beautiful ‘in the flesh’!
“I will never understand why people passed her by and why it took so long for her to find a home – but I’m glad it did!”
Life has a way of rewarding patience and compensating for troubled beginnings. Moko enjoys living with Lynn and her new life is peaceful and contented. And it has taken a classical turn. Lynn is a violinist with the Queensland Orchestra and on many evenings, Moko enjoys being lulled off to sleep to the strains of the violin.
