Snatched from “death row”

BY JOSHUA MAULE

It’s been almost a month since Doggie Rescue was given a family of Shihtzus about to be destroyed by the pound.
But the charity’s founder Monika Biernaki said efforts are now well underway to heal the four dogs that have eye damage caused by poor breeding.
‘These beautiful young dogs have suffered so much,’ Ms Biernaki said. ‘Shihtzus normally have such gorgeous big googly eyes and theirs are so damaged.’
All of the dogs have severe scarring across their eyes and one of them has recently had an eye removed while another is waiting for an operation.
Ms Biernaki said while it is exhausting to look after the dogs she is keen to save dogs on death row because it is never the dogs’ fault if they are neglected by their owners.
‘I just can’t stand the senseless destruction of the dogs. It’s just so inhumane,’ she said.
Each year the organisation saves about 1000 dogs from across inner-Sydney ‘ with up to 200 dogs under their care on any one day.
A number of other dogs are also ‘fostered’ in the homes of individual supporters until permanent homes can be found.
On an average week the kennel can take more than 10 new dogs into their care and give just as many away for adoption.
It costs the charity $500 per dog that is saved, around $300 of which is covered by people who adopt the dogs ‘ the rest of the funds however being covered by donations from the dog-loving public.
Ms Biernaki said the charity does not receive government funding but can only continue through donations and because members of the public volunteer to adopt or foster the canines.
She said the 400 or so volunteers are involved in picking up dogs from the pound and feeding the dogs each day.
On top of that Ms Biernaki said hundreds of other residents irregularly drop by and walk the dogs around inner-city parks.
For more information on how to donate or to adopt a dog visit www.DoggieRescue.com, or call 9486 3133.