Help our most vulnerable animals in need this winter

Tas

65913  |  Age: 1 year and 1 month  |  Breed: Domestic Medium Hair

Tas arrived at GAWS after a member of the public found him lying in a gutter. At first glance, he was so still and so small that he was thought to have already passed away.

When staff realised he was alive, everything moved quickly. Tas was rushed into emergency veterinary care, fighting for his life. He weighed just 390 grams and was in a critical condition. His tiny body was battling on multiple fronts: his nose was crusted with discharge, his eyes were sealed shut, and one eye was severely ulcerated.

He was immediately placed on fluids for dehydration, given pain relief, and gently syringe-fed to give him a chance at survival.

Testing soon confirmed the severity of his condition, Tas was carrying two intestinal parasites. Treatment began straight away, alongside daily antibiotic injections and intensive nutritional support. Slowly, almost cautiously, he began to eat on his own.

For a moment, there was hope.

But his right eye continued to worsen. Despite ongoing treatment and medication, it became clear that the damage was progressing. Vets worked to manage his pain while he waited to be old enough and strong enough for surgery. Both eyes were temporarily tacked closed to protect them and preserve what vision they could.

When the tacks were removed, the outcome was clear: his right eye could not be saved. Surgery would be needed, but only once he reached 2 kilograms. For a kitten so small, it was still a long and fragile journey ahead for such a tiny body.

Tas was moved into foster care, where his next chapter quietly began. There, in a home with Heather an experienced and long term foster carer, rather than a clinic, he kept growing, steadily, supported by round the clock care and endless patience while he waited for the surgery that would give him relief.

Months had passed and Tas had reached the target weight. He underwent eye removal surgery and recovered well, finally free from the pain he had carried since arrival.

What began in a gutter ended in a home.

After everything he endured, and everything it took to get him there, Tas was adopted by his foster carer, Heather.

A life once thought lost became one that was simply too loved to let go.

Bones

65460  | Age: 1 year and 7 months  |  Breed: Staffy / Jack Russell Terrier

Bones came into our care as a shadow of the dog he was meant to be. Severely emaciated and alone, he arrived as a stray, and despite being microchipped, no one came looking for him. The team named him Bones, a heartbreaking reflection of just how fragile he was.

He was quickly placed on our foster list, needing urgent care, nutrition and time to heal. Just eight days after arriving, GAWS staff member of six years, Brooke, and her partner Josh were looking to adopt their first dog together. They had been looking for a purebred, but sometimes, the dog who needs you most finds you instead.

When Brooke saw Bones, she couldn’t look away. “I felt so bad that he was there, so I sent a photo to Josh,” she said.

They agreed to foster him temporarily, giving him a safe place to recover until he was ready for adoption. It was Brooke’s first time fostering.

Bones arrived weighing a dangerously low 10.8kg. Due to his condition, GAWS vets were unable to proceed with treatment initially, and his desexing had to be postponed until he reached a safe weight.

His recovery was slow, intensive and carefully managed, requiring 4-6 small meals a day, overnight feeds, scattered feeding, and slow feeder bowls. It was a demanding routine, much like caring for a newborn, focused entirely on giving him a chance to survive.

But even with the intensive care, it didn’t take long for Brooke and Josh to fall in love. Within just two weeks, they knew Bones wasn’t temporary. He washome. The paperwork was finalised, and their foster became forever.

With time, patience, and love, Bones grew stronger. He gained weight, built confidence, and slowly stepped into the life he was always meant to have. Today, he is a happy, healthy 24kg dog, thriving in the home he never had to leave.

Since then, Brooke has fostered another nine dogs - and foster failed again with six-week-old Bonnie.

Tilly

63906  | Age: 2 Years 5 Months 1 Week  |  Breed: Domestic Short Hair

Tilly came into GAWS care after being caught in a trap by a member of the public. From the moment she arrived, it was clear she had already been surviving against the odds.

She was missing part of her left hind leg and was relying on what remained to move, causing repeated wounds that would not heal.

After veterinary assessment, it was determined that amputation was the kindest option, giving Tilly the chance at a pain-free future.

She underwent surgery to be desexed and to have her left hind leg amputated. She spent the following days in the veterinary clinic on strong pain relief, carefully monitored as she recovered from both procedures.

After three days, she was strong enough to transition into foster care, where her recovery could continue in the comfort of a home environment.

Heather, a GAWS foster carer, first noticed Tilly while scrolling the foster page at work. A three-legged cat immediately caught her attention, and when she showed her son, he was instantly keen to help.

“When Tilly arrived, she was a gentle cat still learning how to navigate life on three legs. She asked for nothing, caused no trouble, and quietly settled into family life.”

Her healing was not without challenges. Her surgical site developed a fluid build-up, requiring drainage, additional antibiotics, and ongoing pain relief to keep her comfortable and prevent infection.

Over the following weeks, Tilly slowly adapted to life on three legs. While her physical wounds healed, her greater journey was learning to trust her body again, to find balance, rebuild confidence, and move through the world in a completely new way.

She also received treatment for juvenile gingivitis and was placed on a specialised diet to support her long-term health and wellbeing.

Through it all, Tilly remained gentle, resilient, and quietly determined. It didn’t take long for her to become something more. Tilly earned the name “Queen of the House” or simply Queen Tilly. Sleeping on Heather’s pillow each night, fully woven into the rhythm of family life, deeply loved and impossible to imagine living without. And somewhere along the way, foster care became forever.

Tilly was adopted by Heather and her family, no longer just healing, but finally home.

She has even joined the family in sharing her journey at her daughter’s daycare for show-and-tell, helping children learn about fostering, adoption, and three-legged animals like herself.

Toby

24235  | Age: 16 years, 4 months  |  Breed: Jack Russell Terrier

Melissa had volunteered at GAWS for years. Cleaning pens, walking dogs, offering comfort where she could, it was simply part of who she was.

But the day she saw Toby, something felt different.

He sat quietly in the middle of the pen, small and still, trembling as people passed by. His eyes followed every movement. Uncertain, confused, anxious, searching. He didn’t bark. He didn’t move toward the gate like the others. He just watched.

Melissa didn’t hesitate. She knelt beside him and gently lifted him into her arms. His little body shook as she held him close. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “You’re safe.”

After holding him for a while, she went to read his file, her heart sank.

Toby was ten years old. He had originally been adopted from GAWS as a six month old puppy and had spent nearly his whole life with one owner. But now, everything had changed. His beloved human had moved into a care facility and could no longer look after him.

Toby had been surrendered.

“You’re not staying here,” she said softly. That same day, she signed up to foster him.

Not long after settling in, Toby underwent major dental surgery through GAWS. Thirteen teeth were removed, and he was carefully assessed for the trembling. Thankfully, there was no underlying physical cause – only fear, confusion, and the disruption of everything he had ever known.

It didn’t take long before Melissa realised what her heart had already decided Toby wasn’t just a foster. He was home. Then, something unexpected happened.

A family friend of Toby’s original owner contacted GAWS. Asking after him and wondering whether a visit might still be possible. It felt like more than coincidence.

Melissa remembered reading Toby’s story the very first day, the note about his owner entering care and the question she had quietly wondered since: did Toby miss him?

Now she had the answer. And she didn’t hesitate.

The first visit was gentle and quiet. Toby walked into the care facility unsure at first, until he saw his beloved owner.

In that moment, something shifted. Recognition. Comfort. Connection. Two old friends, finding each other again.

Since then, Melissa has made those visits a regular part of life. Toby doesn’t just visit his beloved owner, he brings comfort to others in the facility too, offering quiet companionship, soft fur, and a calming presence.

Because of fostering, Toby didn’t just find a new home. He kept his old love too.

Melissa shares:

“Bringing Toby into our household permanently has been wonderful. This little old man has a new lease on life. He plays like a puppy, and like a puppy he has learned so many new things, by being a part of our 'gang'. Toby gave his previous mum and dad a lifetime of love and devotion, and now that they can no longer, it's my turn to give back to this little guy. I'm dedicated to helping him to see out his final years in a household where he has a four-legged brother and sister and will be loved as much as he loves us.”

Pipa

68151  |  2 years 3 months  |  Breed: Domestic Short Hair

Pipa arrived at GAWS as a surrender from a farm, accompanied by her tiny kitten.

She was quickly diagnosed with a congenital eye condition, likely genetic, as her kitten’s eyes were also affected. After veterinary assessment, it was determined that Pipa’s eye would need to be removed to prevent future complications as she aged.

Her kitten was taken into the care of another rescue for further specialist assessment and ongoing support.

Pipa underwent desexing and eye removal surgery before being placed into foster care to recover and heal.

This was Alison’s very first fostering experience. After her daughter suggested helping animals in need, the family began browsing the GAWS foster page in search of their first foster cat. When they saw Pipa’s profile photo, showing her with two green eyes. They felt an instant connection.

But when they picked her up, Alison was surprised to discover she now had only one green eye.

At home, Pipa entered a busy household, three teenage children, a dog, and an independent cat. It took time, patience, and gentle care for her to adjust. But slowly, she began to settle… and then she began to trust.

Pipa’s transformation was only possible because she was given time to heal, time made possible by the kindness, patience and compassion of Alison and her family.

Despite everything she had been through, she remained soft, trusting, and full of love. She became deeply affectionate, often curling up on chests and wrapping her paws gently around necks as if giving hugs.

The family fell in love with her. Not because she was perfect, but because she wasn’t. She grew playful, social, and confident, showing all the signs she was ready to return to GAWS and find her forever home, allowing the family to open their home to another animal in need.

But something unexpected happened.

After Pipa returned to GAWS, the family couldn’t stop thinking about her. They refreshed the adoption page often, hoping she had already found a home. After a week, Alison and her daughter decided to visit her in cat adoptions, to say hello and for a quick pat. But the moment they saw her again, they knew. Pipa wasn’t just a foster, she was family.

They made the decision then and there to bring her home for good. What the rest of the family didn’t yet know was that Pipa was coming home as a permanent addition – not a foster, but forever.

“I didn’t realise the love that we had as a family to give to another pet,” Alison shared. “We already had two animals in the home, but what surprised me most was seeing my teenage boys show so much love and compassion for Pipa.”