MORE than 60 unwanted cats have found their forever homes thanks to the tireless work of Bethany Swiggs.
The passionate animal enthusiast founded her own cat rescue organisation last year, hoping to turn stray cats and unwanted cats into beloved pets.
Big Dollan’s Fur Rescue has now been operating for 18 months. Swiggs said the organisation specialises in “rescuing, rehabbing, and rehoming cats and unwanted kittens in the local areas of Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.”
“I’ve been working in lower socio-economic places in Frankston like the Pines, working with residents to desex cats. We also take kittens into foster care as well and through that we find them forever homes,” she said.
Swiggs said she was compelled to start the not-for-profit after volunteering in animal welfare. “This is a passion of mine – I fell into it at start 2021 when I became a volunteer and found there weren’t many resources. Vet clinics were often out in the eastern and northern suburbs. I wanted to focus on our community, so I went out and started our not-for-profit.”
Big Dollan’s Fur Rescue was recently named a national finalist for the outstanding new rescue group award at Pet Insurance Australia’s companion animal rescue awards. Swiggs said the honour left her “shocked”.
“Really it was the acknowledgement that if just one person is playing their part, the impact can be quite large. If you’re thinking about doing something, just do it. You are making a difference.”
The cat rescue not-for-profit has helped find homes for 62 cats so far. To access Big Dollan’s Fur Rescue’s services, visit bigdollansfurrescue.org or contact @bdfurrescue on Instagram.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 11 October 2022
