For Immediate Use
December 2022

Open your home to a stray this Christmas Day

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Fostering is one of the most important ways to help homeless animals this festive season.

While most pets will be in a loving home with their family this Christmas, hundreds of animals aren’t so lucky. So Animal Welfare League Queensland is calling on the Gold Coast community to open their hearts and homes to stray and homeless animals this Christmas Day.

AWLQ spokesperson, Craig Montgomery, said AWLQ would have an average of 1,145 animals in their care daily across the festive season. Adding that fostering is one of the most important ways to help animals in need.

“Providing our residents somewhere to stay for a short time helps save lives. AWLQ promises never to euthanise a healthy, sociable or treatable animal in our care. Our foster carers play an instrumental role in allowing us to keep this promise to thousands of animals every year. So we’re calling on people to join their foster roster.

“There is nothing like the love and warmth of a foster family. Fostering enables pets to thrive in a home where they are less stressed and is also crucial for pets too young to be at the shelter due to their fragile immune system. In addition, pets can have a quiet space to heal from an illness or surgery or support to improve various behaviours,” said Mr Montgomery.

Foster carers only need to provide a welcoming home and a loving heart; AWLQ supplies the rest. Each carer is set up with food, litter, bedding, medications, enrichment, access to free veterinary care, and advice to make the experience as smooth as possible. In addition, AWLQ will work with foster carers to structure your caring around your available time and ability to commit.

“If you love animals but can’t commit to having one long-term, fostering provides an ideal opportunity to connect with one for a while. Helping an animal become socialised and well-adjusted to find a permanent home is an experience every animal lover should try,” said Mr Montgomery.

While the most urgent need is for cat and kitten foster carers, the organisation is also looking for special carers for their most vulnerable. In addition, AWLQ is looking for people who could provide a short-term loving home for other species needing respite or rehabilitative care, especially dogs.

Be the next safe haven for an animal in need! If you want to become a foster carer, visit awlqld.com.au/foster for more information or register for our foster program.