GAWS hoping for pawesome Christmas appeal

GEELONG Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) is encouraging the local community to get behind its annual Christmas Appeal.

Launching on November 20, the appeal will aim to raise over $25,000 to support GAWS in caring and providing basic healthcare needs for lost, unwanted, abused and abandoned furry friends.

During the campaign, GAWS is also hopeful local people will come out in full force to adopt a furry friend during the festive season.

GAWS marketing and community engagement officer Alexa Hayley said the Christmas Appeal was key to ensuring local animals can get the care and love they deserve.

“It [the Christmas Appeal] is a really important one for us and helps to celebrate GAWS and what we do in community.

“We love what we do, but fundraising is key to keeping up with the rising number of animals we are getting.

“Particularly during the holiday season, we see an increase in surrenders, which is really sad.

“While we are always celebrating all these little lives, we are also super busy trying to work overtime to make sure we can take care of them all.

“We will be aiming for around the $25,000 in donations so we can continue to do all the essentials for our furry friends.”

Ms Hayley said the popular “12 strays of Christmas” concept will return for another year in the hope of sharing the stories of some of GAWS favourite furry friends.

“We will be showcasing animals each week socialising and having fun on site, which is what it’s all about.

“Each week it’ll be a key animal who we would like to see adopted, whether it be a dog, cat or a smaller pet.

“We encourage the community to come in on-site, to have a look on our website and to have a think about adopting one of

these cute animals.”

GAWS has had a 90 per cent rehoming rate over the past two years, with more than 2,500 pets being adopted.

The GAWS Christmas Appeal runs until January 1, 2024.

To donate and for more information, head to gaws.org.au