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 […]
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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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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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 […]
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 […]
