Reuniting lost dogs with their owners is a very challenging but rewarding experience for the team at Milly’s Search Trap and Rescue Group.
The challenge is set to become easier thanks to a $2000 grant from Greater Bank’s #GreaterCentralCoast Community Funding Program, with the group taking out the majornprize in the program’s July round.
The money will go directly towards a thermal imaging drone to help more families find their four-legged friends.
Secretary Jo-anne Wright said the group works all over the Central Coast.
“We are a not-for-profit team of volunteers who are dedicated and passionate about bringing lost pets home safely, sometimes travelling five hours away to help find lost dogs,” she said.
“We work with rescue groups and private owners providing advice, equipment and volunteers to help in the physical search for a lost pet.
“Our feature piece of equipment is the Missy Trap, a pre-manufactured dog enclosure with a door controlled by an infrared beam sensor, which we first brought to Australia in 2020.
“As it’s a larger space, a frightened animal is more likely to go in compared to a standard box trap.
“We usually rely on donations from the public and there’s not a lot available out there, especially at the moment, so it means a lot to us to receive this funding from the Greater, as it has enabled us to purchase a thermal imaging drone which we use to help locate animals in bushland.”
Greater Bank’s Central Coast Regional Sales Manager, Josh Swetnam, said his employees at the Erina branch had been moved by the passion of the Milly’s Rescue volunteers who work tirelessly to reunite lost pets with their families.
“If your dog goes missing, that would be a very distressing experience, and the volunteers at Milly’s recognise how integral pets are to a family unit” he said.
“It’s great to hear that our contribution could help reduce the anguish and reunite people with their pets a bit quicker, which is a fantastic outcome.”
July runners-up, Capes4Kids Australia and TAD (Technical Aid to the Disabled), each received $500.
Online voting in the August round of the #GreaterCentralCoast community funding program is open at greater.com.au/greatercentralcoast until 5pm on Friday, August 19.
Nominated recipients are 1st Ourimbah Scout Group, Toukley and District Art Society and Special Olympics Central Coast Club.
Source:
Media release, Aug 9
Greater Bank
