CQ Pet Rescue are the only animal rescue organisation that operates in the Central Highlands. We are staffed entirely by volunteers, and are passionate about our animal rescue work.
What we do
CQ Pet Rescue Inc. has a Memorandum of Understanding with the CHRC Animal Management team to foster and re-home animals from the local pounds, after their legal time limit has been reached. The Animal Management team are legally obligated to give an animal 72 hours for its owners to collect it. Prior to CQ Pet Rescue being created, after the time limit had been reached, it was standard practice for unclaimed animals to be put to sleep. With CQ Pet Rescue in operation, we are now notified when animals are in the pound, so that we can try and find space with a foster carer if they are unclaimed. As long as they are not deemed dangerous, and we have foster carers available, we are allowed to take them from the pound and re-home them.
Once these animals are in our care, we book them into the vet either on the same day, or within the next day or two. They are vaccinated, microchipped and wormed. If they are six months or older, it is standard practice for us to desex the animal. All animals that are re-homed through CQ Pet Rescue MUST be desexed, as per our adoption agreement.
We fundraise a lot of money to offset the cost of our vet bills. Our adoption fees only cover a portion of our costs, and our vet fees are discounted. If a member of the public gets a free puppy or kitten, and then gets the same level of vet care administered that we have made mandatory for all of our foster animals, it will cost them a lot more than what it would cost them to adopt from us with all of that treatment already completed. Our Adoptions Coordinator is able to break this cost down for potential adopters to show how reasonable our adoption fees are, in relation to the costs we are billed for the proper care of that animal.
What we do not do
Private Surrenders
We do not accept private surrenders from the public. We used to do this, but due to legislation, we can be fined by the council if we take in surrendered animals. For this reason, we no longer accept surrendered animals, and they must be processed through the pound in accordance with the law.
Stray Animals
We do not pick up stray animals that have been found wandering the streets or in someone’s yard. Again, this is due to legislation. If you see a stray animal, you should ring your local council. The Central Highlands Regional Council number is 1300 242 686. Please follow the prompts on the phone system and leave a message with your details if one of the Animal Management team do not answer.
Veterinary Advice or Financial Help
We do not provide veterinarian advice, or provide financial assistance to those with animals that need care. We are not qualified to do so, and we do not have the financial capacity to assist. If you are unable to pay for your animal’s urgent vet care, consider applying for Vet Pay to get your precious pet through its illness.
When needing veterinarian care, including emergency after hours care, please contact one of the local Emerald, Qld vets clinics:
Maraboon Veterinary Surgery
1/65 Hospital Rd, Emerald QLD, 4720
07 4987 6800
Gray Street Veterinary Clinic
43 Gray Street
07 4982 4868
Emerald Veterinary Clinic (a.k.a. Theresa St Vets)
57 Theresa Street
07 4982 1555
Wildlife Care
We do not do wildlife care, but if you are in need of help, we do have the contact details of the marsupial carer and bird carer. Due to privacy reasons, if you require one of these numbers, please contact us directly.
Animal Abuse Cases
We do not have any legal authority to intervene with potential animal abuse cases. If you have any concerns about the welfare of an animal, please contact the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry. They have an office at 99 Hospital Road. Alternatively, you can call them at Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23, so the details can be forwarded to the Emerald Office. Give them as much information as possible, such as the location, name and contact details of the owner, nature of the complaint, etc.
Please note that while the RSPCA has authority to handle abuse cases as well, they do not operate this far out.
After Hours Service
Please note that we are not a 24 hour service. CQ Pet Rescue is run strictly by volunteers who all have their own families, jobs and other commitments to attend to. There are only a small number of us running this organisation. For this reason, if you call after business hours, and during weekends, you can expect your call to go through to voicemail. We simply do not have the resources or manpower to monitor the phone around the clock.