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“Now more than ever, it’s crucial to acknowledge the vital role shelters play, as rising cost-of-living pressures have led to a high number of pet surrenders, putting a strain on facilities across the country,” says Trish Ennis, CEO of CANA.
CANA is comprised of member agencies Animal Welfare League QLD, Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania, Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, Saving Animals From Euthanasia Inc (WA) and Lort Smith Animal Hospital.
CANA is comprised of member agencies Animal Welfare League QLD, Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania, Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, Saving Animals From Euthanasia Inc (WA) and Lort Smith Animal Hospital.
Meet some of these dedicated animal shelter staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to care for animals in need.
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| Credit: Animal Welfare League of Queensland |
Baylee Bergman, Gold Coast Rehoming Manager Animal Welfare League Queensland
Baylee has been working at AWL Queensland’s Coombabah shelter for nearly four years and is now the Gold Coast Rehoming Manager.
She has always had a passion and love for animals for as long as she can remember.
She has always had a passion and love for animals for as long as she can remember.
“Growing up in a home where all animals were cared for, whether it was an injured bird, a stray kitten or a rescue dog, I was fortunate enough to grow up amongst animals big or small,” she says.“I knew I wanted to work in the industry and caring for animals who aren’t as fortunate enough to end up or come from a family like mine, this pushed me in the direction of shelter work, to hopefully give these animals a second chance at finding that home.”
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| Credit: Animal Welfare League Queensland |
A day at AWLQ is never the same for Baylee; as a manager she handles and deals with things from every aspect of shelter work.
However, her typical day would consist of cleaning, walking and feeding the dogs in the quarantine areas that are typically staff only.
“Handling and dealing with customer complaints, queries and concerns can be very emotional at times. Although my goal is for the animals, we are also here to support our community and anything from declining or accepting surrenders, explaining to owners why their animals have not passed our program, where their missing animals have gone, and so forth.”
“Handling and dealing with customer complaints, queries and concerns can be very emotional at times. Although my goal is for the animals, we are also here to support our community and anything from declining or accepting surrenders, explaining to owners why their animals have not passed our program, where their missing animals have gone, and so forth.”
Baylee also handles transfers between the five AWLQ sites, as well as arranging medical care and transfers for patients in their Community Vet Clinics.
“I always try to look after our staff as well and with our ever-rising numbers of intake animals the workload can be a lot to manage. So, I will try and jump in to help with behaviour assessments, cleaning, feeding, walking, looking after the contagious animals or customer meet and greets,” she says.
A shelter can only house and care for so many at one time and unfortunately, we fill up much quicker than we can adopt out. With adoption numbers dropping and slowing down, the tough decisions of declining animals and stopping intake is having to be made.”
Surrenders can be hard for shelter staff and sometimes difficult not to have their own emotions get in the way or cloud their judgement.
“I always think of the animal, whether it’s a dog being surrendered due to housing restrictions or a cat because the owner is allergic. In situations and reasons for surrender, the animal may not be correctly loved, cared for and looked after to its full potential,” says Baylee.
“We are here to help, help elevate pressure or stress for the person involved, but also help the animal find its forever home and one that is better suited for them.
“The animals that come in and are too scared to walk on their own, the animals who don’t eat for days so our staff cook homemade meals or buy food for them to try, the animals who go home with staff at night, or have to spend their days in an office because they cannot cope with the shelter stress and noise. That these animals go through so much before they can be made available, and that they need time to settle and decompress and feel safe and loved again.
Jodi Hildebrand, Team Leader at Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania (DHoT)
Jodi has always been one of those people you might not notice straight away, but once you do, you can't imagine how the place would run without her.
For 22 years, she has lived and breathed the Dogs' Homes of Tasmania, her connection to the dogs and the Homes deeper than most will ever know. She doesn't just manage operations — she lives them.
Literally.
For 17 years, Jodi has called the caretaker’s residence on-site home, sharing her life with the dogs that come through the doors, broken, abandoned, and in need of love.
Her journey began humbly, as so many do. Fresh out of college, Jodi started volunteering, thinking it would be a way to get her feet wet in the world of animal welfare. But within a short time, her dedication stood out. Casual roles followed, then permanent ones, as she moved up from animal attendant to the heart of operations as Team Leader. It’s a title she quietly dislikes. She’s not one for labels or accolades. For Jodi, it has always been about the dogs.
And the dogs? Well, they’re etched into her skin and her heart. She knows each one by name, their quirks and their fears, and she cares for them with an intensity that goes far beyond her job description. Whether it’s managing staff across the state or dealing with the everyday demands of the shelters — about 175 dogs on average — Jodi is everywhere, ensuring every dog gets what they need, even when it seems impossible.
“I always try to look after our staff as well and with our ever-rising numbers of intake animals the workload can be a lot to manage. So, I will try and jump in to help with behaviour assessments, cleaning, feeding, walking, looking after the contagious animals or customer meet and greets,” she says.
“The biggest challenges we are facing in the shelter are the intake and volume of animals.”
The influx of animals we are finding that are entering our local and rural pounds, along with those coming through our surrender waitlist, is always increasing.
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| Credit: Animal Welfare League Queensland |
Surrenders can be hard for shelter staff and sometimes difficult not to have their own emotions get in the way or cloud their judgement.
“I always think of the animal, whether it’s a dog being surrendered due to housing restrictions or a cat because the owner is allergic. In situations and reasons for surrender, the animal may not be correctly loved, cared for and looked after to its full potential,” says Baylee.
“We are here to help, help elevate pressure or stress for the person involved, but also help the animal find its forever home and one that is better suited for them.
As low as the lows can be when dealing with surrenders, the highs of getting them home is what fuels me to continue the work.”One thing Baylee wishes people would know is that “although from the outside our rehoming centres show all the animals up for adoption and ready to go, but instead the magic it takes for our team to deal and manage with what happens behind the scenes.
“The animals that come in and are too scared to walk on their own, the animals who don’t eat for days so our staff cook homemade meals or buy food for them to try, the animals who go home with staff at night, or have to spend their days in an office because they cannot cope with the shelter stress and noise. That these animals go through so much before they can be made available, and that they need time to settle and decompress and feel safe and loved again.
“Not every animal will be perfect the first day they go home but we help give them a chance and offer time, because not every road to adoption is easy.”
Jodi has always been one of those people you might not notice straight away, but once you do, you can't imagine how the place would run without her.
Literally.
For 17 years, Jodi has called the caretaker’s residence on-site home, sharing her life with the dogs that come through the doors, broken, abandoned, and in need of love.
Her journey began humbly, as so many do. Fresh out of college, Jodi started volunteering, thinking it would be a way to get her feet wet in the world of animal welfare. But within a short time, her dedication stood out. Casual roles followed, then permanent ones, as she moved up from animal attendant to the heart of operations as Team Leader. It’s a title she quietly dislikes. She’s not one for labels or accolades. For Jodi, it has always been about the dogs.
And the dogs? Well, they’re etched into her skin and her heart. She knows each one by name, their quirks and their fears, and she cares for them with an intensity that goes far beyond her job description. Whether it’s managing staff across the state or dealing with the everyday demands of the shelters — about 175 dogs on average — Jodi is everywhere, ensuring every dog gets what they need, even when it seems impossible.
She’ll deal with front-line staff, coordinate the vet team, and manage the mental and physical health of every dog. All of it with a quiet, determined grace.
But it's not just the big picture that consumes her. It’s the little moments, too, like when four tiny, six-day-old Spaniel cross pups were surrendered because their mother couldn’t care for them.
These pups needed round-the-clock care — feedings every few hours, assistance to go to the toilet, everything their mother would have done. Jodi didn’t hesitate. She kept them in her office during the day, feeding and nurturing them while managing the constant demands of her role.
By night, she and another staff member took shifts, feeding and tending to the pups every two hours. Six weeks of sleepless nights, yet Jodi showed up every day to do it all over again.
Jodi’s heart runs deep, and she never seeks credit for the immeasurable work she does. She didn’t even want this story written — she’d much rather keep the focus on the dogs.
Jodi’s heart runs deep, and she never seeks credit for the immeasurable work she does. She didn’t even want this story written — she’d much rather keep the focus on the dogs.
But that’s the thing about Jodi. She’s the biggest underdog you’ll ever meet, never seeking the spotlight, always doing it for the dogs. Her quiet, unwavering commitment keeps the Dogs' Homes of Tasmania running, and her heart ensures that every dog in the state has someone fighting in their corner.
About Companion Animal Network Australia
CANA promotes the human-animal bond and responsible pet ownership through national campaigns, partnerships and initiatives such as Pets in Aged Care, Rent with Pets and Pets in Business programs. CANA also lobbies governments to drive change and preserve the bond between humans and their animals.
CANA encourages the public to get involved by adopting, donating or volunteering to help ease the burden on shelters. For more information about CANA’s programs or how you can support CANA member shelters, visit australiacan.org.au
CANA encourages the public to get involved by adopting, donating or volunteering to help ease the burden on shelters. For more information about CANA’s programs or how you can support CANA member shelters, visit australiacan.org.au
MEDIA RELEASE, November 2024
Shelter teams bridge the pet adoption gap
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