By Laura Michell
A Craigieburn animal rescue service is calling for greater support from the state government and Hume council as it faces the prospect of closing its doors if it can’t raise $200,000 by November.
Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) was set up 17 years ago to help vulnerable animals and families in crisis by providing low-cost veterinary care, emergency boarding for pets of family violence survivors, and free pet food, among other services.
But the growing need for its services and dwindling funding avenues has left SCAR needing to raise $200,000.
According to SCAR, there has been a 43 per cent drop in government program grants and dwindling public donations in the recent years, amid a cost-of-living crisis.
The annual operating costs for the shelter services is $2 million, while essential vet care has cost SCAR $336,000 in just six months.
Three SCAR staff members have been made redundant and shelter hours reduced in a bid to ease the financial pressure on the charity.
SCAR chief executive and founder Marisa Debattista said the service had the resources, know-how and manpower to support the community, but staff were struggling to provide the services while “chasing our tails” to cover the cost of running the charity.
“We can’t focus our resources where it is needed,” she said.
“We have managed week to week for many years.”
Ms Debattista said SCAR received more than 25 calls every week from pet owners in need.
She said the charity had saved the lives of more than 17,000 animals over the past 17 years through rehabilitation, rehoming and emergency support, while its free pet food charity had distrubted 1.2 million meals to helping people doing it tough to feed their pets.
“Saying no to someone when you can the distress in their voice is really heart-breaking – that is not something that leaves you,” Ms Debattista said.
“Second Chance Animal Rescue receives no recurrent operational funding from Hume City Council or the Victorian Government, yet it’s a key player in animal welfare regularly called on to advise governments about
putting their strategies into action,” Ms Debattista said.
“We need Hume City Council and the state government to come the party and help with ongoing, sustainable funding,” she said.
Ms Debattista said that without ongoing government and council funding, she feared SCAR would permanently be facing the prospect of closing its doors.
On July 2, the government announced a $49,872 grant for SCAR through its Animal Welfare Fund. Ms Debattista said while SCAR was grateful for the funding, it was not enough.
A spokesperson said the state government was a long-term supporter of SCAR and provided $756,000 over the past 13 years, but did not answer questions about whether the government would provide ongoing funding to the service to help keep its doors open.
Hume council said it was able to support not-for-profit organisations, such as SCAR, through funds and grants programs open to the community.
Council said it has supported and partnered with SCAR through a number of funding streams and initiatives, including its annual charitable fund, funding for a cat desexing program, business expenses and equipment, and a three-year partnership grant covering funding until 2026.
SCAR is also accepting donations from the community.
Details: secondchanceanimalrescue.com.au/
