Page 14 - DoggieRescue E-Magazine January 2022

1 14 JANUARY 2022 DOGGIERESCUE.COM MAGAZINE 4

FEATURE Article THE BUILDING OF A
NO-KILL SHELTER:

DOGGIERESCUE.COM (PT 6)
Compiled by Roland Briefrel

In part 6 of our series looking at those who have contributed to the growth
of DoggieRescue over a long period of time, we meet Kim Bernotas and
Corinne Daw . I have worked with Corinne for over a decade now as a
regular contributor to this magazine. In that time, Corinne has moved the
magazine from a black, white and red paper production, to a fully blown
colour magazine that can be accessed in hard copy and electronically
Compiled by Roland Briefrel
on-line. The amount of time she spends each month on ensuring a high
quality and informative publication, cannot be underestimated. In
addition, it has been a delight working with her over the years on this
cornerstone of communication between DoggieRescue and the community.
CORINNE DAW

As the old year passes and the new year begins, I
am sure everyone has that feeling of nostalgia. I
decided this is a great time to write my input into
the growth of DoggieRescue over the years.

I want to take you back, perhaps 25 years. I was an
Animal Welfare Officer at Burwood Council, rehoming
the unclaimed dogs but I was also rescuing dogs from Corinne with
kill pounds. At that time there was no rehoming policy Sub-Editor
and thousands of beautiful, healthy dogs and puppies Dolly
were simply destroyed because they were unclaimed.
There was no Facebook or social media outlets and I
had just one foster carer, Marianne, who could only take
a small dog or two.

This day I had sent her out to a western pound that no
longer exists, it was called Renbury Farm. Marianne
rang me when she arrived home. “I have taken six dogs”
she told me, “all small and very rehomeable, they were I am not sure if it was God whispering in my ear or just
due to die tomorrow, I just could not leave them”. There the hand of fate, but the next day when Monika went out
were, she told me, many more due for euthanasia in the to this pound and saw all the beautiful dogs waiting for
next few days. In this large and very overcrowded death, I feel DoggieRescue was truly born. Monika
pound, there were small dogs, young pups and even a started by vaccinating, then rescuing as many as she
mother with pups. What could I do? What would you could, their plight ignited a passion in her to see as many
have done? I searched my mind. dogs as she could survive out of the thousands of healthy
dogs who were being euthanized.
There was a lady who I knew through connections who
was rescuing a few dogs. I gave her a call. “Monika, Little did I know that just a few short years down the track
can you fit any dogs in?” What made me call her? . I would be burnt out, jobless and knocking on Monika’s
door at the then Homebush location of the shelter.