Long-term BAWCS bonded (and senior) duo Champs and Venus finally met their purr-fect match! Venus, the confident queen, and Champs, our shy senior gent, showed exactly who they are… and their new ‘mum’ was completely smitten. Trial home = activated! Venus explored like a boss, Champs took his time but with Venus leading the way, […]
WHEN your ‘mum’ has a car accident, I’m with her and she has to go to hospital…. she’ll be okay soon In the meantime, you get to enjoy ’emergency’ boarding at BAWCS PS Thank you to Regional Community Vet Clinic for giving me a check over, my eye had ‘ouchies’ but I’ve been given the all clear […]
BENDIGO Animal Welfare & Community Services (BAWCS) – Year in Review In 2025, BAWCS continued to step in supporting animals and the people who care for them, often in crisis, often with nowhere else to turn. Community Pets Support Program BAWCS Community Pets Support Program remained the backbone of our frontline work. We supported: Not […]
As Christmas approaches, BAWCS reflects on how we have assisted those in need, from animals in pain, to families on the brink of losing the pets they love. Because of you, this year we were able to: Every case we assist represents a moment where things could have gone very differently. Christmas is often a […]
BAWCS recently made a submission into the Inquiry into Wildlife Roadstrike in Victoria highlighting our personal experience given our Shelter location. We also attended the Bendigo feedback session The final report into the Inquiry has been released.The report frames wildlife roadstrike not just as an animal welfare issue, but also a public safety issue: collisions […]
BAWCS welcomed a very underweight kitten into care after he was found alone, with no mother or siblings nearby. Although he appeared “lively,” he wasn’t interested in eating on his own and has needed syringe-feeding to ensure he gets the nutrients he desperately needs.His firm but black stools are also a concern. He’s now been […]
Click here to view the advocacy form.
Back in January 2024, BAWCS Community Pets Support Program was contacted by a devastated owner seeking help to euthanase her much-loved 10-year-old cat, Soots.As always, we asked questions, a lot of them actually, because sometimes there’s still hope. Soots had lived with lifelong vomiting, foul-smelling diarrhoea, and extreme weight loss, yet remained a happy, affectionate […]
LUMPS in senior pets should never be ignored. While many turn out to be harmless fatty growths, some can be more serious and need proper investigation. When BAWCS Community Pets Support Program received a request for help to have a lump checked, we reviewed the owner’s circumstances and once eligibility was confirmed, 14-year-old ‘B’ was […]
It’s that time of the year again when BAWCS launches our Mid Year Fundraiser – alittle later than usual but still time to take advantage of tax time with donations of $2 and over tax deductible! As usual a busy start to the year with a strong focus on pro active support for people and […]
MAGINE BAWCS surprise when this microbat fell out of a dog coat that was being stored on a shelf in our kennel area tonight. Microbats are active throughout the warmer months then typically go into hibernation from May to August every year. We think this little one had just started his/her hibernation. Deciding to move […]
BAWCS Community Pets Support Program was honoured to support this beautiful Cane Corso with emergency veterinary care back in April last year. Thanks to this great care, she recovered well and was able to enjoy more precious time with her loving mum. Sadly, one year on, another urgent request came through. An emergency trip to […]
BAWCS recently received a call about rehoming 7 roosters. We always ask where the roosters came from and sadly it is usually from allowing hens to sit on eggs to hatch them. Did you know? If you let your hens hatch eggs, there’s a 50% chance each chick will be a rooster. So… what happens […]
BAWCS Community Pets Support Program was able to assist a client who had recently escaped a domestic violence situation. Her pet was struggling with a deep laceration to the right leg with the whole leg swollen and hot to touch. Needless to say this injury needed vet attention asap but with funds stretched to the […]
VALE Dakota, you will be very much missed, especially by your best bud Harrison. Dakota’s story in memory. She had quite the history with BAWCS Shelter. This beautiful girl came into BAWCS care as part of a litter of puppies in 2012. Camille was first adopted at 11 weeks of age to a young couple […]
This year, BAWCS Shelter and Sanctuary is celebrating our 21st Christmas! Founded in 2003, our service continues to save vulnerable animals that needed help in ensuring they lived their best lives. A recent case was Bella. At 14 years of age, Bella found herself in the Pound and no one came forward to reclaim her. […]
………..“on the way to work this morning along the main highway as you enter goornong there is a deceased black cat on the road” “My husband and I just drove past a cat that has been hit and put out the front of Alexander’s hair just past St John of God Hospital on the way […]
YOU need to be proactive in searching for it for the best outcome ensuring your cat doesn’t end up living on the streets, in survival mode with no protection from danger. Whilst posting on FB can help, no one is as concerned about your missing cat than you – be proactive. Here are some great […]
BAWCS cannot stress how important it is to have your pet’s teeth checked regularly, especially when they start getting older. The first sign of something amiss is often their breath. If you’re up close and personal to your dog or cat (and who isn’t) and they smell abit manky, time to book a vet visit. […]
Duncan was adopted this time last year. He’d been returned to BAWCS Shelter under our ‘return at any time for any reason’ Policy and we welcomed him back with open arms, confident we can find his forever home. His back story here.His adoption day post here. Duncan’s forever family keep in touch regularly and here […]
SHELTERS and rescue groups are overflowing with dogs. BAWCS Community Pets Support Program offers a training option instead of surrendering a dog. Often a reason for surrender is the dog is not doing what the owner wants. This can be from pulling on the lead when out walking to jumping up on people when they […]
AS many long term supporters know BAWCS has a Community Pets Support Program. Our Program’s aim is to addresses a gap in service provision for disadvantaged pet owners in our community to ensure the wellbeing of pets and also to assist with keeping them with their families. There are so many surrenders that rescue just […]
It’s certainly starting to get chilly at night! Here are some great tips for keeping your dogs warm. BAWCS ‘caring with compassion’
THIS is Dakota. She has quite the history with BAWCS Shelter. This beautiful girl came into BAWCS care as part of a litter of puppies in 2012. You can see her ‘baby’ photo here. Camille was first adopted at 11 weeks of age to a young couple who called her Dakota. In June 2017 Dakota […]
SOMETIMES when doing a trapping Program BAWCS comes across very challenged cats. This sweetheart has been immediately started on antibiotics and is being fed a highly nutritious diet to put on much needed weight prior to being desexed. BAWCS is hopeful for a speedy recovery for this cat to enable a return home asap. BAWCS […]
DID you know… BAWCS operates a “no kill” animal shelter, which means animals that come into our care remain safe regardless of whether they are adoptable or not. Reasons for not being available to adopt can vary but generally it is due to age / health related issues. For April, it is due to her […]
Merry Christmas to all BAWCS Shelter and Sanctuary supporters! 6 YEARS ago, BAWCS Shelter became aware of a cat who was in quite a bad way. A kind person saw him and acted, trapping this timid boy and bringing him to our Shelter, knowing he would be safe regardless of his temperament, health etc. What […]
AS Halloween approaches please consider what decorations you are using around your home. Fake spider web is a real danger to wildlife. Birds, insects and other flying animals have been known to get tangled up in it and unable to free themselves. There are many other decorations that don’t pose this risk so please choose […]
BACK in early September BAWCS Community Pets Support Program collaborated with our friends at Pet Medical Crisis to assist David, a 63 year old veteran and his HUGE, cuddly 3-year-old Boerboel named Ripple. David’s military journey has not only left him with PTSD but when suffering a knee injury, it was revealed he had a […]
BAWCS Shelter permanent ‘special needs’ resident Sniffy underwent surgery at our vet today and this disgusting looking piece of ‘we’re not sure what it is’ came out of her NOSE! We have given the go ahead for a sample to be sent off for further investigation and we’re hoping it is not going to be […]
ON Monday 22 May City of Greater Bendigo voted to introduce 24-hour cat containment. The 24-hour cat containment requirements start from 1 July 2024 so cat owners have 12months to get themselves sorted to make sure their cats are contained. BAWCS has always promoted cat safety by not allowing your cats to be outside and […]
WITH yet another call from a parent of a toddler concerned about their dog they have had for over 6 years reacting negatively, time for our ‘managing toddlers and children’ post. It can be very stressful for a dog when a small ‘being’ comes into the home environment. Just as you would manage any situation […]
It’s that time again and this year we are aiming our Appeal at two very special BAWCS Shelter animals (Little Legs and Duncan) – both examples of the work we do. Once you have read their stories, we do hope you will support our work via our Mid Year fundraiser – and remember, all donations […]
On Saturday night (20 May) one of BAWCS special needs cat Little Legs was rushed into the Emergency vet clinic. After a dental procedure two days earlier, she became ‘flat’ and then stopped eating with her gums very pale and urine quite dark. It turns out Little Legs had picked up an infection which spread […]
Why not consider a one off BAWCS Shelter Special Needs Cat sponsorship. For as little as $50 for the entire year, your gift provides a great fridge magnet for the recipient together with background / history on the cat you’ve chosen to sponsor. Sponsorship helps in keeping our special needs cats happy and healthy. Plus […]
WHAT a wonderful outcome working in partnership with Bendigo Pet Vets – Mobile Veterinary Clinic and Pet Medical Crisis who referred this case to BAWCS Community Pets Support Program.A distressed pet owner, struggling financially under the weight of todays ever increasing living costs, was so worried about her beloved dog who needed major dentistry with […]
BAWCS Shelter was recently contacted by a dog owner who wanted to surrender. When we discussed what her dogs issues were, BAWCS offered training support via our Community Pets Support Program with Sahil from Elite Canines Training as an alternative. A young (and large) dog that under the right management could stay in his home […]
BAWCS Community Pets Support Program offers veterinary care support for disadvantaged pet owners in our community. A recent referral to a vet ended up with an unwell cat being euthanased due to renal failure. The vet advised that if the cat had presented 2-3 days earlier it most likely would have been saved. Please don’t […]
IT’s that time of the year when we launch our annual Christmas Appeal! Donations of $2 and over are Tax Deductible. Click here for donation options. Please use reference XMAS APPEAL. BAWCS Shelter and Sanctuary celebrated our 19 year anniversary in September this year. As many supporters know, we were the first ‘no kill’ Shelter […]
DID you know… BAWCS offers support for disadvantaged pet owners in our community. BAWCS Community Pets Support Program is designed to benefit and support the welfare of companion animals within Victoria, belonging to disadvantaged pet owners. The Program’s aim is to address a gap in service provision for disadvantaged pet owners in our community. Service […]
IT’s that time of the year when the same two questions are asked. Where did the first half of the year go? OMG my tax return will be due in soon. Did you know… BAWCS is registered with the ACNC and donations of $2 and over are tax deductible? That we are currently ENTIRELY volunteer […]
Thank you to those who have been concerned about BAWCS Shelter and Sanctuary during the COVID-19 crisis. Like many others, it has severely impacted our ability to generate critical income which is needed to keep our facility running. In particular, our boarding kennel and cattery bookings have been cancelled for the usually busy Easter period. […]
GOODWILL Wine donate 50% of their profits to us, so you’re not only getting AWESOME wine that you can gift to loved ones, or share over the Christmas break – you’re also helping Bendigo Animal Welfare & Community Services at the same time. ❤ Wine is just a click away. Order yours here. Free Shipping […]
THANKS to the State Government’s Animal Welfare Grants Fund Program, Jaala Pulford MP and supported by local State Members Jacinta Allan and Maree Edwards MP, BAWCS has been able to further increase our welfare standards of care at our Shelter by providing an environmental enrichment and training facility for our dogs in care. As Central […]
As a cat owner, you will appreciate they are amazing animals that have their own individual personalities that are quirky and entertaining. Unlike dogs, they need to have a different approach when training as they will rarely listen to you telling them what to do. Rather than damaging your relationship by scolding your cat (which […]
Litter tray issues are one of the most common concerns with cat owners but in many cases, can be easily solved and is often one of the first signs that something is not right with your feline family member. Cats are very clean animals and will naturally use a litter tray so if your cat […]
This week 21-27 May is National Volunteer Week and what better time to say THANK YOU to all our dedicated and hard working volunteers who make what we do possible. You may have helped out once as part of your workplace giving program or you may be one of our dedicated regulars, on behalf of […]
Earlier this year, BAWCS was delighted to receive a Victorian State Government grant to allow us to run our 2017 Feline Desexing Program. The program was made available to concession card holders, who otherwise would not have been able to afford it. We had an overwhelming response to the launch of our program and it […]
You just never know what the next phone call is going to bring. One month ago, we received a call for help from a compassionate lady whose gardener had unknowingly made contact with four tiny kits while whipper snipping. One of the kits had a bloody ear and leg but thankfully it looked like the […]
For almost 3 years, our precious senior boy Willy has been living with cancer. With regular chemotherapy and medication to help his appetite, there were times that he was doing so well that we began to imagine (and hope against all odds) that by some miracle he no longer had cancer. Each time we thought […]
Following the construction of our new barn, Phase Two of our Build A Barn project is finally underway! BAWCS has received a very generous helping hand from our latest sponsor Champion Stable Systems with the supply and installation of two shiny new stables in our barn. We are so grateful for this support which will […]
Would you jump into the Yarra River for a good cause? On Sunday 12th March, Moomba’s brave Birdman Rally participants will take the leap for charity, as part of the annual Moomba Festival. For the first time ever, BAWCS is being represented! Only 12 entrants were selected to take the plunge into the Yarra River […]
We are so excited to announce that the construction of our new BAWCS vet building is now complete, thanks to the State Government Animal Welfare Fund grant that we received earlier this year. The project would not have been possible without the funding, which has enabled us to build a dedicated veterinary care building and […]
This week is the Victorian Seniors Festival and while we recognise the wonderful seniors in our community, what better time to celebrate our senior pets who are waiting for a home! Adopting a senior pet is a rewarding and heart warming experience. Not only will you make a difference in the life of the pet […]
BIG GIVE Central Victoria Campaign has launched today! Big Give is a community fundraising campaign to support local groups and is all about “giving where you live”. BAWCS has jumped on board with our Build a Barn for BAWCS fundraiser. We have already secured $15,000 towards our project and are hoping with your support, we […]
It’s National Volunteer Week from 9-15 May and all of the BAWCS animals want to say THANK YOU! BAWCS is currently ENTIRELY volunteer run and rely on the dedication of our volunteers, whether it be at our shelter looking after our cats, dogs and farm animals or fostering, dog walking, admin support, fundraising or transporting […]
Those big round eyes captured our hearts from the moment Tuppence arrived. This sweet girl has had her health challenges but we vowed never give up on her until she let us know it was time…and that she did. It is with a very heavy heart that we let you know Tuppence has been given […]
BAWCS had a great day at the recent Australia Day Celebrations at Lake Weeroona, organised by the Rotary Club of Bendigo Sandhurst. With over 140 market stalls and free entertainment, crowds of people took advantage of this great event and the equally great weather! Our star attraction was Phantom, our 19 year old miniature horse, […]
1. NEVER leave your pets in the car on a warm day. The reality is pets die in hot cars! Please don’t take the risk, as it may cost them their life. If you can’t take them with you where you are going, leave your pets at home. Don’t leave pets confined in rooms or […]
Bear, Pip and Jiffy were born in BAWCS care. We opened our doors (and our hearts) to their young mum “Caitness”, who was living on a farming property, heavily pregnant and unwanted. The next day, 3 beautiful little champagne kittens were born. Bear, Pip and Jiffy have grown into the cutest and funniest little kittens […]
As another year passes, we look back on all the lives we’ve been able to change in 2015 because of YOU! A huge THANK YOU to all of our dedicated volunteers, donors, sponsors, foster carers, business partners and adopters….we could not have done it without you! We wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR and look […]
It is with sadness we advise that we have finally received the results of tests undertaken on Tuppence that recently indicated something was not quite right. The high white cell count cannot be accounted for (the urine culture was clear) so it is feared that our sweet princess may have cancer. This means she is […]
With the clip clop of little hooves and a neigh to announce his arrival, Phantom made his debut at the Vegecareian Festival yesterday. The yearly event held at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion attracts crowds from all around the Bendigo region, many of whom met Phantom at our stall yesterday. Phantom is an 18 […]
Almost a month ago, a very special match was made with our beautiful Marvel. Such a gentle soul, who had been in BAWCS care for some time and was loved by all of our volunteers. It warmed our hearts when we received this lovely update from Marvel’s new “mum”, and we just had to share… […]
Rusty was a pretty sad sight when he first arrived into BAWCS care, with a large open wound on his head and a damaged eye. While he was happy to have a loving pat and keen to get some attention, it was obvious this poor boy was in pain. As fate would have it, he […]
Have you visited our NEW online shop, featuring our Hand Knitted Beasties? Whether you’re looking for a unique gift or a special friend for yourself, BAWCS Beasties are exclusive to BAWCS and have been lovingly hand made by our skilled volunteers in Bendigo, Victoria. Just like the animals in our care, each Beastie is unique, […]
Late last year a very special girl came into our lives. Our sweet Mogg, with her endearing little half ear and cute little kitty chirps. Originally, a “community cat”, a change of circumstances meant her future was uncertain as the care she had been receiving was not going to be available any longer. She immediately […]
Back in February this year, we received a call for help from a local trailer business, after they discovered four tiny kittens hidden inside a camper trailer which had been delivered from their Melbourne warehouse. At just 2 weeks of age and without their mother, they were in desperate need of help to survive, so […]
.…you’d be smitten without a doubt! When our piglet Truffelina recently arrived at the BAWCS Shelter, we were instantly in love with this special little girl. Originally living on a farm, her owners relocated and Truffelina’s future was looking very bleak! A compassionate friend took her in temporarily, realising that her residential property was not […]
Who has lovely long lashes and pokes out their tongue when they’re hungry? Abbey and Bella of course! And these girls sure have won our hearts since we were asked to take on two “bobby calves” late last year. The term “bobby calves” refers to newborn calves that are less than 30 days old, which […]
After noticing that Willy had lost weight, it was off to the vet for a health check. A blood test was taken and it was suspected to be Pancreatitis. He began to respond well to medication and a change of diet but he suddenly dropped weight again and stopped eating. So, he once again returned […]
For most people, the thought of having to surrender their beloved pet is heartbreaking. For many people in palliative care, they have to make that decision to leave their best friends behind….and this is how Basil, our placid champagne senior, came into our care. With a bond formed over 12 years, his “Mum” entrusted her […]
After months in the making, our new website is finally up and running….Just in time for the launch of our BAWCS Christmas Appeal! With so many mini mouths to feed with our kittens growing strong and with some challenging new arrivals requiring surgery, we need your support now more then ever. Would you like to […]
