Jody Hafey with one of the cats from a fire-affected area that she is looking after for free.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
For Jody Hafey, it was a no-brainer to offer to take in cats and dogs belonging to those who had lost their homes or had to evacuate away from the Longwood and Yarroweyah fires.
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The owner of GV Boarding Kennels and Cattery at Congupna has opened up her business, for free, to residents of fire-affected areas, taking the first animals on Thursday, January 8, as people started to flee from their homes.
At the height of the fires, she had 60 dogs and 49 cats in her care from Euroa, Katamatite and Longwood.
She also took two pet sheep, a ferret and a rabbit from those needing a safe haven for their animals during the fires.
Many still remain, while their owners work out the next step.
“Some of these will stay for months because people have lost their home and have nowhere to go,” Ms Hafey said.
She also expects another influx as people who have been displaced in the fire find accommodation that won’t allow them to keep their pets with them in the short term.
Her offer of free boarding for the animals still stands for those in this category.
Jody Hafey with one of the dogs boarding for free because of the fires.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Having probably provided about $15,000 worth of boarding for free during the fires, Ms Hafey is modest about her role in helping.
“You’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do to help the community,” she said.
Along with kennel staff Ruby and Lynelle, Ms Hafey worked tirelessly for days taking in pets at all hours of the day and night.
“I didn’t sleep for three days,” she said.
“We got stuck in and did what we had to do.”
It is not the first time GV Kennels and Cattery has taken in people’s pets for free during times of disaster.
During the 2022 floods, Ms Hafey also made the same offer to the community.
“The thing is, most evacuation centres won’t take animals,” she said.
“And in the floods, people wouldn’t leave without their dog or cat.”
It was the same with the fires.
“If they’ve got somewhere safe to leave their dog or cat, they could leave (their homes) and be safe too,” Ms Hafey said.
“We’re happy to help wherever we can.”
Ms Hafey said the facility had had help from others, with Tastes of the Wild pet food company donating half a pallet of dog and cat food, while Cleave’s donated three tanker-loads of water to fill the dam to make sure they had enough water.
Invergordon vet Dave Pullen from Dr Dave’s Mobile Vet has also been pitching in by treating animals from fire-affected areas for free.
Some have needed treatment for injuries from the fires, while others have needed updated worming and vaccinations.
Ms Hafey does need some help from the community though with buying F10 Kennel disinfectant, a veterinary-grade disinfectant for cleaning.
With a tub worth several hundred dollars, people can help out by donating cash towards buying the disinfectant.
Cash donations can be made at Everyday Supplies at 28-36 New Dookie Rd in Shepparton. People just need to say it is ‘an F-10 donation for GV Kennels’ and the money will be put aside to purchase the disinfectant.
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