Rescue Awards Winners 2020

This year I was thrilled to be asked to be the Ambassador for the Jetpets Companion Animal Rescue Awards and would like to give a big CONGRATULATIONS to the Rescue Awards Winners 2020.

The Rescue Awards is a national program that celebrates and recognises achievements in the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of companion animals Australia-wide.

The winners were revealed today at a virtual Rescue Awards Winners 2020 Ceremony run by Refuel Creative in Adelaide, which is the only way we could include everyone from around the country in the ceremony this year. It certainly highlights the challenging times we are currently living in!

These awards are particularly important to help bolster spirits and recognise all of the  rescue organisations, volunteers and adopters who have made significant sacrifices and devoted their efforts into caring for the welfare of companion animals in such difficult times.

Over 1000 entries were received this year, which really shows Aussies’ passion for pet adoption. This year Wolf, the Maremma was chosen as the pet adoption story winner, and Sass, a kitten was chose as the foster carer story winner.   The story of ‘Mumma Zura’, a rescue dog (pictured) who looks after puppies for the RSPCA NSW,  moved judges and sponsors so much that a special award was created for her.    And rightly so!

Congratulations to Cathy Beer from Pets4Life who does such a great job running these awards and thank you for involving me in these awards.  I am humbled to be part of such a great program that recognises the efforts of rescue groups, animal shelters and thousands of volunteers across the country.

Adopting my own little rescue dog Darcy back in 2017 changed my life, and made him a TV star ;-), and we now have our foster pup Vindi staying with us who has his own set of challenges that I am working on daily, so I know how important this work is and am driven to help change the lives of our companion pets one by one.

Congratulations to all of the Rescue Awards 2020 Winners

Category 1: Outstanding Rescue Group – Greyhound Rescue NSW

Category 2: Outstanding New Rescue Group – Liberty Foundation Australia (NSW)

Category 3: Outstanding Animal Shelter – Cat Haven WA

Category 4: Outstanding Council Animal Shelter – Shoalhaven Animal Shelter (NSW)

Category 5: Innovation in Rescue – Central Coast Animal Care Facility (NSW)

Category 6: Community Education and Outreach Program – Banyule’s Free Cat Desexing Program (VIC)

Category 7: Volunteer of the Year – Shelley Tinworth (Greyhound Rescue NSW)

Category 8: Refuel Digital Technology Award (new) – The Rabbit Sanctuary (NSW)

Category 9: Advocate® People’s Rescue Story – Kate O’Donnell and her dog Wolf (NSW) adopted from Dog Rescue Newcastle

Category 10: Drontal® Foster Carer Story (new) – Rachel Arthur and her cat Sass (NSW); foster carer for Sydney Dogs and Cats Home

Plus a Special Drontal® Foster Carer Award: Mumma Zura, an American Staffy who has fostered over 200 puppies. (PICTURED)

About the Author: Lara Shannon is a NDTF certified dog behaviourist and trainer, Executive Producer and Host of Pooches at Play on Channel 10 and editor of Poochesatplay.com. Lara also runs her own dog training and boarding business in Melbourne’s Bayside area and is the Author of Eat, Play, Love Your Dog.