Ruth’s journey has been anything but easy. Fleeing from a violent household, she found herself living in her car with her beloved Saffy. Amidst all her struggles, Saffy has been her constant companion, providing comfort and a sense of stability, helping to calm her anxiety, and giving Ruth the unwavering emotional support that we know our cherished pets provide.

Ruth noticed that Saffy might have an ear infection and it was getting worse. Seeing Saffy’s health quickly decline, but with limited resources, she reached out to us in desperation. 

Our team quickly mobilised, accessing our Crisis Care funding packages to cover the veterinary costs for Saffy’s treatment. Ruth, despite her challenging circumstances, insisted on contributing what little she could which spoke volumes about her love for Saffy..

Beyond the veterinary care for Saffy, our Veterinary Social Workers and Care Team gave Ruth the support she needed, and connected her with a local family violence support service. 

The relief Ruth felt knowing that Saffy was receiving the necessary treatment was immense. It alleviated some of her overwhelming stress and gave her a glimmer of hope.

For us, seeing Ruth access essential services and begin her journey towards stability reaffirmed why we do what we do.

Rates of family violence in Greater Geelong have continued to rise over the last five years, causing significant economic and social costs to the community. We witness this firsthand in the support services we provide. The Geelong Vital Signs Report 2023-2024 states that since 2022, there has been a significant 10.8% increase in family violence in Greater Geelong, compared to 2.8% in Victoria. Timely responses from family violence and prevention support services are crucial.

We are grateful for funding from the Geelong Community Foundation who have produced the Geelong Vital Signs Report, which aims to connect philanthropy with community needs and opportunities.

The Geelong Community Foundation’s CEO, Gail Rodgers, says “While we are an affluent community, there is significant inequality which not only has a serious impact on the most marginalised people, but also ultimately leads to poorer health and wellbeing outcomes for everyone.”

Rather than see Geelong residents’ pets suffer or be surrendered to shelters because their owners cannot afford veterinary services or surgeries, our organisation steps in to provide the necessary support. This includes temporary accommodation for pets when their owners need to seek care for themselves, ensuring that pets stay with their families, where they truly belong.

Ruth and Saffy’s situation highlights the challenges in our community, the real need for veterinary and social services such as ours, and serves as a reminder of the intricate connection between human and animal wellbeing. 

Often, people seek help for their pets, and through us, they also find the support they need for themselves. It’s a cycle of care that strengthens both human and animal lives.

But, none of this is possible without the generous support of our donors.

With our state government funding being cut entirely, we are now reliant on our community to sustain our services. The need is only growing — vets and social service agencies are increasingly referring to us, our Geelong community relies on us, and the impact of having to turn people away is far-reaching. While we’ve been able to meet immediate needs with the support of generous funders the Anthony Costa Foundation and Geelong Community Foundation, our ongoing capacity to support everyone who comes to us remains uncertain. 

*Geelong Region Vital Signs Report 2023-24

Names have been changed for privacy.