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By Ben Hope
20th July 2010 11:07:20 AM
WESTMEADOWS vet nurse Marisa Capuana knows first-hand how valuable the work of a pro-life animal shelter can be.
Ms Capuana adopted her dingo-cross Milo from Woodend’s Pets Haven animal shelter earlier this year after he was born on a farm in an accidental litter.
At just a few weeks old Milo was turned in to the shelter with malnutrition, fleas and worms.
“When he arrived at Pets Haven his skin was in a terrible condition because of fleas and he was malnourished with a belly full of worms,” Ms Capuana said.
“He is now six months old and he has really flourished. He has put on weight and his skin is better. He is happy now – and he is a little terror. He had a rough start but he has made up for it 100 per cent.”
Ms Capuana now volunteers at the shelter to help with the cleaning, dog walking and adoptions.
“Pets Haven will take care of any medical conditions an animal might have, even though it often costs more than the price of adoption,” Ms Capuana said.
“Being a not-for-profit organisation Pets Haven relies on volunteers and donations. After seeing exactly what they do I had to get involved and help out. My experience there also inspired me to train as a vet nurse.”
Pets Haven works to re-home orphan cats, kittens, dogs and puppies that would otherwise have no future. Animals are rescued from pounds and are kept at the shelter while they wait to be adopted into a new home.
The shelter has already re-homed 821 animals this year.
Ms Capuana said the hardest part of volunteering was seeing mistreated animals.
“We see a lot of older dogs as well as abandoned puppies that have had a hard time,” she said.
“At the moment we have some puppies that were dumped at the Melton tip. We also have some kittens that were left in a Brimbank park tied up in a bag. They were lucky to be found.”
To help Pets Haven continue its work Marisa is helping to organise a trivia night at the Best Western Airport convention centre in Attwood.
“We are holding a trivia night on August 14 and every cent will go towards the shelter and help continue the work that it does,” Ms Capuana said.
The night will also include auctions and a raffle as well as a presentation from Pets Haven founder Trish Bourke.
“We are trying to get some big names on the night and we would love to see as many local residents as possible come along and show their support,” Ms Capuana said.
For more information or to book a seat contact Marisa on 0421 418 448.
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