Geelong Digs Deep For Furry Friends
Eden Mathieson 3/6/2016
Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) has put a call out to the people of Geelong using social media.
A post to the organizations Facebook account on the 25th of May showed the sparse supply of cat food GAWS had left. “Currently at GAWS we have 200 cats and this photo shows how much wet food we have left after this mornings feed… we are DESPERATE for donations” the post reads.
The GAWS shelter, located in the Geelong suburb of Moolap, is unfunded and relies heavily on the support of individuals, groups, and workplaces to assist in the work that they do. The GAWS family is made up of a dedicated team of employees, volunteers, and supporters; their mission is to reunite lost animals with their owners, rehome relinquished and abandoned animals into loving ‘forever homes’, and educate the wider community on responsible pet ownership.
Animal lover Cassidy Chappell generously donated to the GAWS shelter after hearing about the issue from family and friends. “I think social media has been [their] biggest blessing; everyone either sees them [GAWS] reaching out and asking for help, or other people donating and they want to do it too” Miss Chappell said. Having never donated to the GAWS shelter before, Miss Chappell now believes along with other first time donators, she will continue to support the organization.
The post has now over 2,200 shares on Facebook alone – with GAWS releasing a statement saying “thank you, thank you, thank you! We are so lucky to have such a supportive community who are there when we need them most and are always willing to help out.”
Geelong resident and GAWS supporter Andrea Galloway recently visited the shelter to donate food where she witnessed “cars coming and going all day”. Mrs. Galloway went on to say that she feels “proud of Geelong when it comes to doing things that support [organisations] that need help… you do notice that Geelong people rally together for good causes.”
GAWS posted a message of appreciation to their Facebook page, saying they feel “so lucky to have such a supportive community wo are there when we need them most and are always willing to help out”
GAWS is now urging those with donations to hold onto them for the time being as their “cupboards are fully restocked and bursting at the seams.”
Geelong Animal Welfare Society’s Operations Manager was approached for an interview but was unavailable to comment.
Picture: Andrea Galloway fills a bag with cat food to donate to the GAWS shelter.
Eden Joy @ Deakin University 