Wildlife and Charity Support
Wildlife
Dandenong Veterinary Hospital provides treatments for native local wildlife that is dropped off by our caring clients and members of the public. This often includes injured birds and possums, or lost/abandoned babies. We provide this treatment at our own cost as a kindness to the animals who share our neighbourhoods.
We will often provide immediate care, testing and treatment, then transfer them to our lovely Wildlife Carer Kay, from Wildlife Days Wildlife Shelter for care and rehabilitation, and return to the wild. Read more below about this wonderful human.
Some wildlife is transferred to Healsville Wildlife Sanctuary if it requires ongoing care or more specialised treatment, or they are a less common species.
Unfortunately not all the wildlife that is brought to us is able to be treated as their injuries may be too severe. These animals are humanely euthanased, to avoid any further pain and suffering. We are also not able to care for introduced species, as it is against the law for us to treat and release them.
Charity Support
Dandenong Veterinary Hospital continues to support our community with regular philanthropic donations to a rotating selection of charities. For every standard consultation visit to our practice, we donate a portion of profits toward a charitable organisation.
After each qualifying consultation visit, our clients can participate in selection of which of the available charities they want us to direct our contributions towards.
Eligible charities are always related to the animal industry. Some of these include wildlife funds, supporting the less fortunate owners in our community, mental health & well-being of veterinary industry professionals and animal rescue organisations.
These are the wonderful charities which have received our donations so far – perhaps you will also consider a personal donation to provide them further support:
Wildlife
Wild Days Wildlife Shelter’s is run by Kay. Their mission is to care for those animals who need our help, respect their environment, and give them freedom to return to the wild.
Whenever they release an animal that has been in their care for rehabilitation, it gives them a sense of achievement and hope that they have given it a second chance to live a full life. This is what gives them the drive to keep going. As humans are responsible for most of the damage inflicted on wildlife, they feel an obligation to be part of the solution rather than the problem.
Every creature deserves the right to live their life in peace and freedom, free from harm.
Cat focus
Dandy Cat Rescue have led the effort to rescue and re-home hundreds of abandoned kittens and cats within the Dandenong area and south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
They are passionate about finding precisely the right home for our cats and kittens, about making matches that will last and about educating the community on the benefits of desexing to enable better cat population control in the Greater Dandenong suburbs.
Veterinary Team Mental Health
Flynn’s Walk was started in 2018 following the incredibly sad loss of Dr Flynn Hargreaves (BVSc). Flynn died by suicide and the walk was created to honour his memory, bring together the community and spread awareness of the mental health issues faced by veterinary professionals in their line of work. Dr Flynn worked with our team for approximately 2 years before moving overseas, and is dearly missed by those that knew him.
Flynn’s Walk is aiming to help spread awareness of the issues faced by vets and hopefully contribute to breaking down the stigma that surrounds suicide and other serious mental health issues.
They believe that with more proactive support and more meaningful conversations, they can help to turn the dial on this devastating issue and make a career in the veterinary field more sustainable.
Dr. Sophie Putland was a vet, who tragically took her own life in September 2021. The pressure of the veterinary profession, including client abuse, became overwhelming for her.
On average, a vet dies by suicide approximately every 12 weeks.
Family and friends established Sophie’s Legacy to honour her memory and advocate for change within the industry. They are determined to see all veterinary staff thrive. Happy vets equals happy pets too, right?
Homeless Support
Pets Of The Homeless (POTH) was founded with a crucial mission in mind: to bridge the gap between human and animal welfare services.
They recognise the deep bond between vulnerable people and their pets and understand that, during times of crisis, this bond should not be broken due to a lack of essential pet care resources.
POTH strive to create an environment where vulnerable individuals can find support for their beloved pets, reducing the strain on animal shelters and promoting a society that values the profound impact of pets in their lives.
From rescuing and providing sanctuary to farmed animals in need, finding forever homes for those who can be adopted, and advocating for those they cannot save.
They provide shelter and direct care for homeless, abused, injured or abandoned animals.
They find permanent homes for mistreated and abandoned animals and promote adoption through education and example.
They promote compassion, understanding and respect for all animals and promote responsible and humane treatment towards animals in our community through the provision of advice, education and information.
For individuals facing homelessness, their circumstances are seldom a matter of choice but rather a result of complex social factors, marginalisation, and isolation within our community. This reality often leads to a very challenging and exclusionary existence. For those living with pets, the welfare of these companions and the human-animal bond play a crucial role in owners’ lives; the benefits of this bond are numerous, offering unconditional love, companionship, emotional support, and security. These elements contribute significantly to the social, emotional, and physical health and wellbeing of individuals, fulfilling basic human needs that may otherwise go unmet.
Broad Animal Welfare Support and World Organisations
Their mission is to save and rehabilitate animals of all shapes and kinds, providing them with any resources they need to thrive. They are passionate about animal advocacy and education, and we strive to create a world where all animals are treated with compassion and respect. As a rescue which supports the rights of ALL animals, they proudly align ourselves with vegan businesses and organisations that share our passion and values.
Vets Beyond Borders is an animal welfare charity which deploys experienced volunteer vets and vet nurses to animal welfare projects in desperate need of help to perform their wonderful, but all too often challenging, work.
They deploy experienced veterinary volunteers to our Partner Organisations around the world in need of our support from all over Australia, Pacific Islands, South East Asia & South Asia
FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them.
FOUR PAWS’ sustainable campaigns and projects focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, animals in fashion, and wild animals – such as bears, big cats, orangutans and elephants – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones.
They establish and operate sanctuaries worldwide, in which wild animals rescued from abusive captivity find a species-appropriate home.