It’s not easy for most mother’s and daughters to spend a majority of their time in one room, let alone work together every day. But for mother Lorraine Knezevic and her daughter Casey Vidot they say it’s “really good”.
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The mother-daughter duo from Cobar spend a majority of their days working together in the mornings delivering mail for Australia Post, and in the evenings caring for unwanted dogs.
Ms Knezevic began the volunteer-run Rural Outback Animal Rescue (ROAR) in August 2015 which aims to address the high numbers of dogs being impounded.
“Basically we finish work at Australia Post, go home, get changed, then go up to the kennels to clean and feed the dogs, which can take anywhere between 2-4 hours a day, seven days a week, rain hail or shine,” Ms Knezevic said.
On working with her daughter Ms Knezevic said it’s easy working together because of the work they do with ROAR.
“It's good, because we're more like best friends than mother and daughter, so it's pretty good," she said.
The animal rescue program based at Cobar is unique to the western region and has been successful in dropping dog euthanasia rates in remote western New South Wales communities.
“We don’t euthanase and we haven’t euthanased any dogs,” said Ms Knezevic.
“No matter what issues they have, we will work with them and we wont just re-home to anywhere either.”
Ms Knezevic said it was her love for animals and the high number of dogs being put down due to lack of adoption which encouraged her to start the program.
While the program originally began in Cobar, surrounding towns such as Nyngan have reached out for the cause.
The program has extended to work with a number of western towns including Cobar, Nyngan, Bourke, Brewarianna and Wilcannia, where impounded dogs are picked up or delivered to ROAR. Rather than being put down volunteers of the program work with the dogs and other large organisations to ensure they are treated and re-homed to loving families.
“We've had probably around 780 dogs come through. So it keeps us busy, but it’s worth it,” Ms Knezevic said.
Ms Knezevic said the registered charity has been lucky to have the support of neighbouring towns, including Nyngan, who have donated food and money for veterinary care to support the unwanted animals.
“It’s a lot of work and it tears at your heartstrings, but I wouldn’t not do it. You just can’t not do it.”
For more information, or to support ROAR visit their Facebook page: Rural Outback Animal Respite/Rescue.
Zaarkacha Marlan
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
