AWLQ needs urgent donations to help keep its promise to never euthanise a sociable, healthy or treatable companion animal, regardless of their age.

Since July 2016, AWLQ has successfully achieved zero euthanasia of any healthy, sociable, and treatable animal at its Gold Coast Animal Rehoming Centres. This achievement comes at a cost, as treatable programs are expensive and can involve a protracted term in care for animals.

Through working with its national Getting 2 Zero (G2Z) program, AWLQ is extremely proud to have also not euthanised any healthy animal from the Gold Coast since 2009.

AWLQ’s ultimate goal has been to extend its G2Z achievement to include treatable animals, which involves caring for any animal with a treatable condition (medical or behavioural) that is manageable or rehabilitatable. Some diseases include Canine Parvovirus (Parvo) and Ringworm plus treating animals with genetic birth defects and critically injured animals.

AWLQ CEO, Denise Bradley, commented that the organisation is determined to continue its promise to save sociable, healthy or treatable companion animals.

“Animals in AWLQ’s care often require on-going treatment at our veterinary clinics and quarantine rooms and we also seek specialist care when necessary. Using vital donations, our expert veterinary team will administer treatment required to ensure that innocent and vulnerable animals receive the lifesaving procedures and care they deserve to survive.

“It is only through the generous support of the public that we have been able to maintain our important promise of never euthanising a treatable companion animal at our Gold Coast Rehoming Centres since July 2016. We are exceptionally proud to have upheld this promise, which can come at an exorbitant expense to the organisation,” Ms Bradley continued.

Examples of AWLQ’s veterinary expenses plus care and treatment costs include:

Canine Parvovirus (Parvo): requires initial hospitalisation and treatment in an intensive care unit costing $1,100. A subsequent two-week after-care onsite rehabilitation cost is $1, 050. The total average cost per patient is $2,150.

Urinary and kidney conditions: cats are particularly susceptible to conditions that affect their urinary tract and kidney health. Serious conditions can require medical or even sometimes surgical intervention. Fortunately, many of these conditions can be managed with specialist veterinary foods and ongoing blood testing. The average cost per animal is $750- 1,500.

Critically injured animals: many dogs and cats come into AWLQ needing immediate veterinary attention for serious and life-threatening injuries – including fractured legs requiring specialist repair or amputation if the injury is too severe. Animals with extensive wounds require surgery and intensive care hospitalisation while they recover. These animals can require care for months while they recover and rehabilitate. The average cost of care and treatment per animal is $1,000-3,000.

Genetic birth defects: some animals are born with impaired organ function, or bones and joints that haven’t formed correctly. Some of these animals can still have a good quality of life through surgery or medication and management. AWLQ consults with specialists to ensure the needs of these animals are met. Animals remain in care for weeks or months until AWLQ is sure their management plan is working. The average cost per animal is $750-$,4000.

AWLQ upholds that all cats and dogs are equally deserving of its utmost efforts to preserve and enhance their lives. This includes stray and unowned animals, cross-breeds, boisterous and untrained adolescent dogs, timid cats – the sick, young and old – and those lacking the ‘cute’ factor. Only animals that are irremediably suffering, or with behavioural problems that have a poor prognosis for rehabilitation are euthanised.