Opening Hours

Animal Viewing Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10am - 3pm

General Hours: 
Most Days: 9am - 5pm
Wednesdays:  10am - 5pm
CLOSED: Sundays and Public Holidays

Our Shelter will be closed to the public the first Wednesday of each month.

Marley's Story

Marley's Story

 

I don’t remember much of my life before RSPCA ACT. I’m pretty sure I had a family and they loved me… or I think they did.

I know that I loved them.

My heart feels heavy and I get sad when I try to remember. I wonder why they left me. Was I too old now? Was I a burden? I’m 14 years old. I know that I’m not a young dog anymore but I know I would have loved them with everything in me.

My clearest memories are of wandering the Cotter Dam area, hungry and cold – abandoned and left to fend for myself. My family left me to be someone else’s problem or perhaps to die alone.

Did they no longer care about me?

Someone saw me and knew that I needed help. They brought me to the RSPCA ACT shelter.

I was so scared.

I didn’t understand what was happening. Where were my parents? I had never felt so alone. For 14 years of my life I was loved and now I had no one.

What was going to happen to me?

I remember the staff being worried about me. I was so skinny - when was the last time I ate? They ran their hands over the protruding bones of my ribs. They were whispering and showed concerned looks. I remember bowing my head in embarrassment. I didn’t want to be a burden to anyone.

They took me into a room with a metal table. What was happening?! A man was there waiting for me and checked all my sores. I didn’t realise how bad some of them had gotten. I had a lot of lumps and skin tags all around my body.

The man was nice. He patted my head and told me I’d be okay. I believed him and gave him a wag of my tail. Maybe it was going to be okay!

They searched but couldn’t find my old family. They reassured me that as soon as I got some medical treatment they’d find me a new home. Maybe even some siblings! I don’t like to be alone so I was really excited. Maybe this was my second chance! I knew that I would be the best dog EVER for my new family.

I didn’t want them to abandon me too…

When they first put me up for adoption I was worried no one would want me. I was older than the other dogs. Did I really deserve a home? I’d already had my chance. There were puppies on either side of my kennel. Would anyone look my way?

Then the day came. I saw them and instantly knew I’d been found. My second chance at a happy life came in the form of three humans and two dogs.

I found a home! I know that I am cherished and loved now, never to be alone or afraid again.

My new name is Marley, and RSPCA ACT gave me my second chance.

 

Heart

 

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