Cruel Christmas: Belinda Russo with injured Bronson at the Moolap shelter.
ERIN PEARSON
AN INFLUX of brutally injured animals has shocked Geelong Animal Welfare Society, according to staff.
They said the shelter had recently received six dogs and a kitten all close to death with severe injuries that appeared to be deliberately inflicted.
The animal welfare society’s acting general manger, Belinda Russo, said the kitten’s injuries were particularly traumatising for staff.
The kitten’s neck was almost severed, with the animal dieing at the shelter from its injury.
Ms Russo said the kitten was found alongside killed siblings left covered in blood at Lara.
“They were around eight weeks old, so they were old enough to be re-homed. That’s the hardest part,” she said.
“If people don’t want their animals bring them in to us, we want to save the”We’re pleading with the public to treat animals humanely.”
Ms Russo said a two-year-old bull Arab named Charlie was found in a harrowing condition wandering the streets of Corio.
The starved dog had been severely bashed.
“Charlie isn’t alone in the fight against cruelty, though,” Ms Russo said.
“Of the RSPCA cases brought in of late we’ve seen a Maltese shih tzu found in Lara with matting so severe her skin was maggot infested, another was a six-month-old staffy pup with massive impact trauma to her face and a huge open wound that required draining.”
Ms Russo said each dog cost more than $400 to treat.
“The new era at GAWS means all animals need a chance and we’re committed to this change,” she said.
“Its been a long road to getting our feet back on the ground and we’re hoping to celebrate the idea of how far we’ve come this Christmas by giving dogs like Charlie loving new homes.”
Ms Russo said the animal welfare society urgently needed foster carers to make room for around 50 dogs expected to arrive at the Moolap shelter following New Year’s Eve fireworks.
The society was embroiled in controversy earlier this year amid claims of inhumane practices when euthanaising animals. Several board members left the society, which later announced a raft of changes to its management of dumped animals.
