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Black Saturday

We remember - three years on

While to many people it will still feel like just yesterday that the Black Saturday fires left a path of devastation and destruction across Victoria, on Tuesday 7 February it will be with solemn reflection that the RSPCA will mark the 3rd anniversary of the terrible events of that day.

Although our work in bushfire affected communities still continues to this day, as an organisation we have taken many learnings from our efforts over the past three years. From our initial emergency response, our ongoing welfare assistance in disaster areas and of course, in a community advisory capacity.

The Black Saturday disaster was the largest deployment of RSPCA’s emergency response services in our history. Every effort and every resource available to us was operational during this time, and once again, all staff and volunteers demonstrated a huge effort in relieving animal distress in a situation that can only be described as harrowing.

Of the $4.2 million that was generously donated to the RSPCA’s bushfire relief fund, 13,623 animals have received assistance, care, treatment and a second chance. To date, we have also processed 1954 individual grants to bushfire survivors on behalf of their animals. We also processed and distributed more than 30 shipping container loads of donated feed, shelter, blankets, towels and equipment throughout Victoria.

There are so many stories of hope from bushfire affected animals, and we hope the following stories show that although we will never forget the events of that fateful day, the RSPCA has been privileged to continue to provide many people and animals with light at the end of the tunnel.

RSPCA's ongoing bushfire assistance stories

Wildhaven

Rusty

Wildhaven has been rescuing and rehabilitating Australian wildlife for over 20 years. The sanctuary housing approximately 500 animals on Black Saturday bore the full brunt of the fires - its buildings and foster animals sadly perishing in the disaster.

The sheer number of wildlife injured during Black Saturday bushfires was overwhelming, and sadly, many wildlife carers and their facilities were also devastated by the raging fires. During the aftermath and until present day, the RSPCA has provided on-going emergency relief to many wildlife carers, including Wildhaven, who have begun rebuilding their sanctuary in 2011 so that they can nurture many more animals back to good health.

Through bushfire grants, the RSPCA was able to provide Wildlife Haven with emergency equipment needed so that its owners, Stella and Allan, could provide treatment and care for injured wildlife. We have also been able to provide assistance with grants that will help them rebuild enclosures to house their patients this year.

Merlot and Cooper, two orphaned Eastern Grey Kangaroos were rescued in the aftermath of the fires by Wildlife Haven. Unfortunately their mothers that had managed to survive the tragedy were hit by cars trying to find new feeding grounds. As you can see, Cooper and Merlot have become inseparable during their recovery and are an inspirational story to come out of the tragedy of Black Saturday. These happy kangaroos continue to live at Wildhaven and will no doubt be overseeing the building works occurring throughout the year.

Rusty came to live at the RSPCA shortly after the Black Saturday bushfires. His owner’s property had burnt to the ground, leaving Rusty and his mates homeless and scared. Due to the immense stress Rusty experienced during the bushfires, as well as the medications and treatment he required, his rehabilitation required the dedication of the RSPCA’s veterinary, clinic, shelter and behavioural training teams to ensure Rusty had the skills to once again face the world. After many months of rehab and TLC at the RSPCA, unfortunately Rusty’s owner was not able to take him back to live with him and had to sadly surrender him to the RSPCA. Rusty had come along way during his long stay at the RSPCA however, and the adoption team quickly found Rusty the perfect new place to put up his paws.

Rusty was still a little wary of the world when he was adopted by his new owner, however has since come out of his shell and in just four short months, has settled in to his new home like he was always part of the family. His owner is thrilled to bits with Rusty and his progress, and the RSPCA couldn’t be happier that after such a long stay at the shelter, he has found his new forever home.

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