This funding isn’t just about buying equipment; it’s about providing a lifeline to the volunteers who work tirelessly to give abandoned animals a second chance.
Mackay Pet Rescue Inc operates entirely on the goodwill of volunteers, rescuing, fostering, and rehoming domestic pets that have been abandoned or whose owners can no longer care for them due to crises like homelessness or domestic violence.
With a strictly ‘no-kill’ policy, MPRI ensures every animal is safe, loved, and medically cared for—whether they find a forever home next week or need a foster family for life.
Until now, the organisation’s Animal Care Co-ordinators have been managing this complex logistical operation using their personal devices.
The Harcourts Foundation grant will purchase essential laptops, printers, and a dedicated phone for the principal Co-ordinator.
This upgrade allows for a seamless, coordinated approach to administration and emergency response—crucial for those late-night rescue calls to save animals from storm drains or bushland.
“We are incredibly proud to support Mackay Pet Rescue,” said Tina Sander, Director, Harcourts MackTown.
“Their team does such difficult, emotional work, often using their own resources to keep things running.
“Knowing this grant will help them respond faster and save more lives is exactly why we do what we do.”
The new equipment will also allow MPRI to print adoption posters and flyers in-house, saving valuable funds that can be redirected toward veterinary bills and food.
It ensures that when key volunteers are away, the baton (and the laptop) can be passed on without disrupting the critical care network.
Pauline Smith, Head of the Harcourts Foundation, added, “It is a privilege to assist grassroots organisations like Mackay Pet Rescue. They are the heart of the community, stepping in when people and animals are at their most vulnerable. We hope this contribution makes their daily operations a little lighter, so they can focus on what they do best—saving lives.”
