Supporting members of the community and their pets
SCAR has always aspired to take a preventative approach to pet homelessness in Victoria rather than the band aid approach of rescuing and rehoming, a cycle which is difficult to break.
We put our thinking caps on and after months of research and planning, the SCAR Outreach Program was born. In partnership with Hume City Council, this ground breaking program addresses some of the deeper social issues leading to the increasing number of homeless animals in our community.
We aim to create a positive, cohesive community where animal owners are supported with accessible resources and able to care for their pets without fear of financial hardship.
Human animal relationships are pivotal in society as they promote physical and psychological health in humans. Did you know that pet ownership has been linked to human health benefits including lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, lower rates of depression and a better sense of well-being? Dog walking is an excellent preventative measure against heart disease. The act of patting a pet can relax and reduce stress levels due to the body’s release of oxytocins, a hormone linked to emotional bonding. Pets provide their owners with companionship and the opportunity to socialise with other pet owners and neighbours, which can boost self esteem, decrease loneliness and provide purpose. Unfortunately some members of the community are either financially unable or unaware of how to provide the care necessary to provide a good home to a pet.
The SCAR Outreach Program provides resources to the community focusing on better pet ownership and provides ongoing and accessible support to under privileged pet owners to care for their pets before they become sick or homeless. We do this by running our low-cost Community Animal Hospital which aims to prevent animal abandonment by offering accessible veterinary care to all pets (with a large focus on low-cost desexing procedures), our free Pet Food Pantry, our Safe House for Pets program, our Animal Behaviour services and many educational programs.
If you or someone you know are experiencing hardship and need some help caring for your companion animals, please contact our shelter team on 9357 0834 or via email on info@secondchanceanimalrescue.com.au and we will do our best to assist where we can.
If you would like to assist us in being able to provide this life-saving service in our community, you can do so by making a donation here.
