Community outreach
With RSPCA QLD
Animal Wellness Day: This program is similar to initiatives run in NSW and WA, whereby outreach services are brought into the community to enable pet owners the opportunity to access veterinary services, basic pet items along with education and referral touchpoints to external human health and welfare services such as the Australian Red Cross, Queensland Health and community centres. The aim is to address the overpopulation of unwanted companion animals and assist people in accessing core veterinary services. We aim to have a positive impact on animal and human health and welfare, and to reduce the numbers of dogs and cats entering pounds. By partnering with human welfare services we also hope to enable pet owners obtain holistic support. Education campaigns that increase community awareness about the importance of de-sexing and other aspects of socially responsible ownership are also a vital part of the day.
VBB volunteers will assist the RSPCA QLD veterinary teams to provide: free Health checks, free vaccinations and heartworm testing, free parasite prevention (flea, tick and worming), free microchipping and pet ID tags, and referral to a local spay/neuter programs.
The event also provide non-veterinary services to pet owners such as: free pet banks (food, bedding, collars, enrichment etc. with educational message designed to decrease common issues reported to the RSPCA QLD Inspectorate to investigate), free nail clipping and grooming advice, free training and behaviour advice, human welfare stands offering support in mental health, pet budgeting, etc., and acceptance into online free online course about responsible pet ownership.
Provisions:
- Designated on-site coordinator
- Complimentary VBB t-shirt
- All consumables and facilities required to undertake the work
- Insurances: professional indemnity (by VBB), volunteer workers cover (by RSPCA-QLD), public liability (by VBB & RSPCA-QLD)
