SAFE Goldfields calls for more volunteers after community rallies behind injured rescue pups

A local animal rescue group is calling for more volunteers after the community rallied behind two injured pups to raise enough to cover their emergency vet bills within 24 hours.

SAFE Goldfields branch co-ordinator Sarah Norton said she was amazed to see how quickly the community stepped in to help Cocoa and Crumble after a call-out for support on social media.

The community raised $3500 for the two pups — Cocoa, who swallowed a dummy and required emergency surgery to clear the obstruction, and Crumble, who was bitten on the nose by his foster brother in care.

The pups were from a litter of 10 found on the side of the road by Kalgoorlie-Boulder rangers before being taken in by SAFE’s local foster carers.

Ms Norton said she was thankful for the quick support from the community, but hoped people would also step up to volunteer their time to help the group.

“What I have found in Kalgoorlie is people seem to offer money a lot more than they offer time,” she said.

“It’s amazing how quickly everyone stepped in and helped, but it would be great to see people come on board in other ways, too.”

Ms Norton, who is based in Perth, has been working as the co-ordinator for the local branch for the past few years as the group had struggled to get local volunteers to do the work.

She said a local committee of volunteers, as well as more foster carers, were vital to the group’s survival.

“A lot of people still think we have a shelter facility here that they can relinquish their animals to, but we are a foster-based service — all of our pets are in homes,” she said.

“But we are also really lucky that we have good rangers here in Kalgoorlie who are amazing to work with and go out of their way to save the animals.”

To offer your support, visit safe.org.au or message the SAFE Goldfields Facebook page.