Every day a staggering amount of innocent healthy dogs and cats are impounded at Council pounds be it via owner surrenders, strays or seized by authorities.
NSW pounds euthanised 6508 dogs and cats in 2024-25 after a government inquiry found an "unacceptable" number of animals were being euthanised in local shelters.
A NSW government inquiry, which published the Pounds in New South Wales report in 2024, said it was "alarmed by the high number of animals being killed" in holding facilities.
About 13% of dogs and 26% of cats euthanised last year, according to data published by the Office of Local Government.
"Council pounds are trying their best to accommodate lost, stray and surrendered animals but [it is] difficult to maintain the quality of care and time for exercise and enrichment of the animals."
Goodwill Rescue Ltd are passionate that healthy, loving animals don't lose their lives in council pounds, not because they are unwanted or dangerous, but simply because there is no space left for them.
We exist to change that.
Working closely with council pounds, we step in to save animals at risk of euthanasia due to capacity pressures.
Through our safe, ethical foster and adoption program, we give these animals the chance they deserve, time to heal, to be cared for, and ultimately to find the loving forever home every animal should have.
But our mission doesn’t stop there.
We also support owners facing difficult circumstances through our Assisted Rehome Program.
Sometimes life changes, financial hardship, housing challenges, or personal crises can leave families with no choice but to rehome a beloved pet.
Our program provides a compassionate alternative to surrendering animals to already overwhelmed pounds.
Using the same careful, ethical screening and matching process as our rescue program, we help place animals directly into safe, loving homes, keeping them out of the pound system and ensuring the very best outcome for both pets and their people.
This service is provided completely free of charge, because when animals and families are in crisis, support should never come with a price tag.
At Goodwill Rescue, we believe every animal deserves a second chance and, every second chance begins with kindness.