Creatures comforts from member of society

Andrew Mathieson
DOGS in the background bark in unison, a white Staffordshire terrier even squealing repeatedly.
Bannockburn’s Robyn Stewart has heard it all before.
Looking for a breather, she trudges through Geelong Animal Welfare Society’s office with a thousand thoughts on her mind.
For a fleeting moment the society’s manager glances over the other side of the desk as more pet lovers file through the door during busy school holidays.
Nanna and the kids are just passing through but others are looking for that treasured pet.
“When you’re here every day there’s always a dog that catches your attention,” Robyn says.
“At the end of it all, you just hope it gets a good home.”
More than 3000 dogs were taken to the Moolap shelter last year – an annual average of about eight dogs a day – but Robyn estimates she’s seen more than 100,000 different furry faces in her time.
Despite the high volume, every animal she has fed, clipped or patted over nearly 35 years still means a lot.
“The other day I was out shopping and the first four people I ran into got their dogs from me,” Robyn tells.
“You stop and listen and they tell you all about what’s happened since.
“I still recognise some people but I do better recognising the animals.
“The other day I knew I had seen this lady, then I looked at the dog and thought ‘I know who you are’.”
Each animal that arrives at the shelter has a story, as Robyn explains, but most are sad.
She has a special liking for brave, big dogs and has taken many home herself.
A rottweiler found in a rabbit hutch surrounded with mesh wire couldn’t stand up any more because its feet were cut.
Covered in sores and severely underweight, Robyn made a simple gesture to the ravaged beast from the back of a ranger’s truck.
“I had a piece of chocolate and she just gently took it out of my hand,” Robyn marvels.
“That was it – she came home with me and lived the rest of her life with us.”
Robyn says matching mistreated dogs with a perfect home gives her the most joy.
One dog a lady adopted was as “skinny as a rake”.
“Now it’s as fat as a coffee table and it’s on gut-busters for dogs,” Robyn laughs.
“The lady’s now so pleased because it’s lost two kilos.”
Incoming animals aren’t restricted to dogs or the thousands of cats.
Certainly, no two days are ever the same.
Earlier this year a couple of feral pigs arrived.
Only the arrival of a deceased owner’s alpaca left Robyn in shock.
“That’s the first time in 34 years we’ve seen one of them,” she says.
“This lady had an alpaca in her backyard in suburban North Geelong.
“It was her baby and it was the tamest animal ever.”
Dreaming of becoming a vet, Robyn used to tag along with a friend’s father who worked at Werribee’s vet centre.
Money was so tight in those days that Robyn had to find a job and forego a veterinary science course.
“So I saw a job advertised at the old dogs’ home, which was in Wilsons Road,” she recalls.
“I applied and, at first, they knocked me back because I was married.
“A week later – and I didn’t have a phone on – they sent me a telegram and wanted me to come out.
“Two buses later, I eventually got there and I’ve been involved ever since 1973.”
Robyn has never left the shelter, except to give birth and look after her two baby boys.
Even then she attended to take stray dogs home to clip their hair.
“You couldn’t work here when you were pregnant,” Robyn explains.
“I did work until I was too big to fit in the kennels.
“I had to quit. I didn’t want to but I had to.
“I was still cleaning kennels when I couldn’t fit or turn sideways in the dog runs.”