A hip replacement forced Jean Medlock to shut down her Kootingal animal shelter six years ago – but even then she didn’t really stop her work.
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Her love of animals has seen her nurture and re-home hundreds of stray dogs and cats for more than 30 years.
But it all comes at a cost for the local hero, with food and medical costs coming out of her own pocket.
Thankfully, some Kootingal locals have cottoned on to her work and have joined forces in a special fundraiser mini-market to be held next month.
Locals are invited to head along to 195 Sandy Road on Saturday, April 21 for a garage sale extravaganza. It will all kick off from 8am.
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The proceeds from the big event will go towards the day-to-day costs of helping Mrs Medlock take care of the animals in her care until they go to new homes.
“Two ladies in Kootingal, Yan Daniels and Colleen Stoltenberg, wanted to raise some money to help me with the food and caring for these animals, because it all comes out of my pocket,” Mrs Medlock said.
“They decided to have this giant sale, there’ll be a big breakfast, a big sausage sizzle.
“There will be a massive cake stall and all of these goods they’ll be selling.
“Two senior vet nurses will be coming.
“If anyone has a medical problem with their animals they can come and have a talk to them and they will tell them what will best course of action to take.”
For Mrs Medlock, the joy of helping pets and new owners find each other is what has kept her cause going for more than three decades.
“I shut the shelter because I needed a hip replacement, but then I’d take the odd one or two and it has grown from there,” she said.
I shut the shelter because I needed a hip replacement, but then I’d take the odd one or two and it has grown from there.
- Jean Medlock
“Everything comes out of my own pocket. All the people pay when they adopt the dog is the vaccination, desexing and microchip fee.
“It’s finding the proper home.
“At the refuge we had 500 dogs a year (coming in) and not to mention the cats that would come in.
“People ring me, people go into nursing homes and they can’t take their dogs with them, so I’ll take those dogs.
“I just feel so sorry for them.”