Vicky got the call at 1am. A couple had come across a small wombat, and he was following them. “When they told me they picked him up and put him in their car, I was shocked,” Vicky says. “A healthy wombat should flee from people. “

Vicky and her partner Brendan rushed to pick the little wombat up. And when Vicky sat down to assess him, something amazing happened. “He climbed up onto my lap, put his head on my chest, and went to sleep. I heard the distinctive rattle of pneumonia on his breath,” Vicky says.

Vicky warmed him up, gave him fluids and treated him for the many ticks she found. Then she headed over to Vets for Compassion’s volunteer vets, Elaine and Chris, who treated him for his pneumonia. “I hate to think what might have happened if we weren’t able to reach him in time…” Vicky says.

For four long days, JoJo, a 13-year-old cat, was trapped deep in a stormwater drain. His human could hear him calling out and left food, but he was too scared to leave the pipe.

None of the local groups or council could help. Until someone reached out to Vets for Compassion.

Our rescuer Mel spent 32 hours beside that drain with JoJo’s human, through heavy downpours that made the rescue bitterly cold and difficult. They missed a full night’s sleep and got absolutely filthy, crawling into the dark and wet, monitoring a trap and camera, waiting patiently for the moment JoJo would feel safe enough to move forward.

Then, finally, the words everyone was waiting for: “We got him!”. JoJo is now safe and back with the person who never stopped fighting for him.

For months, a kind-hearted local watched this ram from across the creek. Every day he was there, and every day he was alone.

He had been left behind when the property he lived on was sold, and the rest of his flock was sent away. He was trapped in a vast paddock, hemmed in by a creek, roads and an abandoned house.

With permission from the local council, Vets for Compassion came to help. A drone search located the ram, and a seven-person team was able to guide him gently along the fence line and bring him to safety. He still found the energy for one last dash before we finally caught him.

The team treated him for painfully overgrown hooves and horns, and an injured eye. He was named Lost and Found, and he is now living happily at Edgar’s Mission.

Founded in 2016 by Dr Elaine Ong AM, Vets for Compassion is a collective of vets, vet nurses and animal rescuers who volunteer their time to help animals in need across Victoria. Our work is varied and expansive, and includes:

• Treating critically injured animals
• Rescuing stranded or stray animals
• De-sexing stray cats and dogs
• Responding to natural disasters