The Whitsundays is currently experiencing a problem with homeless cats who have either been deliberately dumped or handed over because their owners are no longer able to look after them.
Last year a box containing approximately three litters (16 kittens) was found behind the Reef Gateway Hotel in Cannonvale – the unfortunate felines were abandoned without a thought to their welfare and one of these cats remains traumatised to this day.
Another incident occurred when a pensioner was forced to move out of the rental property she had been residing in for 20 years and the new motel-style accommodation, which was her only option, did not take cats so she had to hand over her 10 year old companion.
These are just some of the experiences that 81-year-old Christina Della Valle has witnessed in the three years since she opened the doors and her heart to the abandoned animals of the Whitsundays.
This inspiring lady is currently housing five rescue dogs, which will remain hers, almost 20 cats and two horses which she hopes to re-home, as well as various other farm animals on her 260-acre property in Preston, near Proserpine.
Animal Rescue Whitsunday operates independently and relies entirely on GoFundMe donations.
“What I don’t get donated, I pay for myself,” said Ms Della Valle.
“This is something I always wanted to do, so I just did!”
Increasingly, anyone who finds an abandoned pet in the area calls her directly and without the red tape of registered charities, Ms Della Valle is able to focus on the important job of rehousing and caring for animals.
“My only agenda is looking after the animals,” she said.
This also makes the adoption process a lot simpler for a genuine animal lover – Ms Della Valle says she prefers to go with her gut instinct when determining each applicant’s ability to look after an animal long-term.
At the moment she has nine three-week-old kittens, four eight-week-old kittens, two that are three months old and two adult cats – all of them are looking for the right home.
For $180, which in fact does not quite cover the costs, you will receive a de-sexed and vaccinated cat.
You can also donate to Animal Rescue Whitsundays by going onto their Facebook page and following the link to the GoFundMe site which is pinned to the top.
Christina Della Valle holding one of the kittens
The kittens are well looked after at the rescue centre but would love to move into a forever home
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