18/06/2026
If you're a rescue pet owner and one of the many people who give a donation at tax time, here is a plea from the community rescue and foster care groups who likely saved the pet you love...
♥ Don't just give to the first charity who has the resources to formally ASK you for a donation.
It is almost certainly the case that the community rescue group who saved your pet doesn't have a paid fundraising team. They aren't currently scrambling to put the final touches on a multi-channel campaign to solicit donations at tax time.
They're very likely to be volunteers too busy rescuing pets, to put together a formal ask.
These community rescue groups rely entirely on the goodwill they generate in the community saving the lives of pets, to keep them funded to a point where they can keep operating. This process fails when they lose out to other organisations who are more well-staffed, more well resourced and more aggressive with their fundraising solicitations.
Take the time to find out who rescued your pet, and give any financial contribution to them DIRECTLY.
♥ Don't give to "umbrella" groups who claim that a donation to them helps more pets than a donation direct to rescue groups.
There is no rescued pets, without rescue groups.
Umbrella groups - including groups who operate entirely online, or have "virtual" shelters - don't get death row and at-risk pets to safety.
Rescue groups need your money to pay for council fees, fuel, vet treatments, medications, desexing, microchips, dentals, training, parasite remedies, bulk foods, specialised diets, milks collars, leads, carriers and traps.
Umbrella groups pay for none of these thing, and might even spend the majority of your donation on paying themselves or giving themselves better offices.
♥ Don't give to big-name groups who have tens of millions of dollars in investment portfolios, corporate CEOs and executives who have been in the role for decades.
Especially when they have absolutely no physical presence in your local community, outside asking you for donations.
♥ ♥ ♥
HELP YOUR LOCAL RESCUE GROUP
HELP THE COMMUNITY GROUP WHO RESCUED YOUR ACTUAL PET
They are the guys are the ones who will go out there are do the work which saves lives in your local community.
They are the guys who make sure the animals of your shire or city are protected, and given a second chance at a happy life with someone like you.
They are the guys that could REALLY USE your tax time donation.
Go. Give. And please - do it right.
