Who will be there when he is scared, sad, hurt, and lonely?

Two months have now passed since the day of the seizure... where Roofus was taken back indefinitely into the shelter hospital environment for undisclosed behavioural testing, with the shelter providing silence instead of the promised daily welfare updates. See details of the seizure here >

HOW DOES THIS BEHAVIOUR LINE UP WITH THE MARKETING CLAIMS ON THEIR WEBSITE’S DONATIONS PAGE?

WHERE THEY CLAIM THE CHALLENGE FOR THE HOMELESS AND ABANDONED ANIMALS IS “THEY NEED SOMEONE WHO WILL BE THERE WHEN THEY’RE SCARED, SAD, HURT, AND LONELY” AND DONATING TO THEM ENABLES THEM TO PAY FOR...

• Food
• Bedding
• Treats
• Toys
• Medications
• Operations
• Training with their Pawsitive Behavioural Consultants

After all... the $93 needed per dog per day doesn’t just appear out of thin air.

BUT, ROOFUS ONLY ARRIVED WITH...

• Half-open bags of food
  • That the shelter’s own treating vet suggested that he was likely allergic to
• A tiny cage (57cm high x 73cm wide x 50cm deep) lined with used towels
  • That this 15-20kg doggo actively avoided
  • Who was relieved when it was finally collapsed after being left up for several weeks (as the shelter suggested he liked it)
• A small (55 cm diameter), circular used pet bed
  • That he wouldn’t go on as he usually wanted to stretch out when he slept
  • His body length far exceeding the size of the provided pet bed
• 1 toy
  • That he destroyed on the first day
• A pink collar
  • That would choke him every time he was reactive on the lead
• “Temporary anxiety meds to treat his shelter stress”
  • That the vet noted “didn’t touch the sides” when speaking with the carer after Roofus’s adverse reaction to medications dispensed without any prescribing vet name listed (this was the only conversation directly with the vet, which didn’t have the shelter admin team intervening)
• Reassurance that his blistered paws, eating difficulties, soft stools, suspected food allergies, difficulty sleeping overnight, and extreme anxiety were all simply “residual situational shelter stress”
• Some generic behavioural training docs & an after-hours emergency vet procedures document
• A referral to an ex-colleague’s behavioural therapy business
  • For urgent support once Roofus’s adoption was finalised
• Advice which got Roofus overstimulated and working hard for all his meals
  • Suggesting this anxious doggo needed more mental stimulation and to scatterfeed/hide/etc his food (which makes sense in that shelter dogs are unlikely to have much experience with food abundance... so maybe that could be destabilising? Maybe Roofus would be uncomfortable seeing a plate of food all exposed and out in the open? Maybe it's a psychological thing where a dog from his background can't have it easy?)

AND, ROOFUS’S CARER PROVIDED...

• Hypoallergenic, fresh home-cooked diet
  • Suited to his sensitivities and calibrated to keep him satiated while gradually reducing calorie load (after no feeding instructions were provided on hand-over, the carer called the shelter for guidance and was told “2 cups of kibble + 1 cup of treats daily,” which led to rapid weight gain and gut distress)
  • The bulk was: kangaroo, lamb, salmon, sweet potatoe, pumpkin, rice, oats, occasional frozen steamed veg
  • Treats included: cheese-wrapped meds, homemade lamb biscuits
  • Lamb was a clear favourite... or really anything the carer was eating... Roofus would even beg for orange slices
• Nutritional guidance from an experienced Staffy owner with a nutrition background
  • Independently sought after having the carer's suspicions of Roofus's allergies were confirmed by the vet
  • The vet had suggested on that call (the only call), that the shelter should be providing hypoallergenic food, but the shelter manager did not think it was a priority to tackle a potential root problem and made no indications that the shelter would provide hypoallergenic food for a dog that might require it whilst in their ownership
  • After the adoption was finalised, the carer had planned to take Roofus elsewhere for a proper vet check to determine the appropriate nutritional needs (the shelter denied a third-part vet visit when the carer asked and was willing to pay out of pocket)
• Stable feeding schedule linked to his medication cycle
  • He would delight at the tiniest bit of cheese that he would get with each meal (not knowing it had his medications hidden inside)
• Oversized doggy bed (1.8m long)
  • Designed for Roofus’s gradual transition to independent sleep
  • Considerate of his love of sprawling out at all angles
• Co-sleeping arrangement during high-anxiety periods
  • Who wouldn't choose a loved one to co-regulate with?
• Soft, cool bedding that prevented overheating and aided rest
  • Roofus was a sensitive dog that preferred pashmina when given a selection of blankies to choose from
• Countless toys and sacrificial pillows
• Non-choking harness
  • Ordered immediately after the carer observed on the first walk that the collar was placing the full force of his lunging on his neck
  • The shelter explained this reactive behaviour as “normal for shelter dogs” and delegated to the carer to manage using a few pages of generic behavioural handouts
• A backup non-choking harness
  • When the other harness was being washed of allergens
• Someone to advocate for his welfare and seek medical treatment
• An “ANXIOUS Please Do Not Pet” bandana
  • His happiness on walks was inviting too many “Drive-by pets” by unknown strangers
  • His carer didn’t want to put Roofus in a compromising situation
• Miscellaneous fashion outfits
  • Which Roofus treated as a solemn ceremony during dressing, but wore proudly on walks
  • Bringing smiles to those who encountered him
• Daily gentle, warm water wipe down to remove allergens from fur
  • Whilst he didn't initially rejoice over this, he gradually accepted it as he observed his pack performed daily cleansing rituals themselves
• Calm, stable home environment oriented around recovery and regulation
• Consistent human presence providing predictable daily contact
• Access to a secure backyard for safe exploration and decompression
  • /A place to go toilet, that didn't require dealing with the public... can't a dog have some privacy?
• Personalised decompression plan with incremental milestones
• Ongoing review of physical and behavioural progress
• Calm, predictable daily rhythm anchored by morning and evening routines
• Structured post-meal walks responsive to energy, anxiety, and desire levels
  • There is no guessing when this dog wanted a walk... practically jumping into the harness himself...
• Decompression pause on the front lawn after each walk to regulate before re-entering the home
  • Minimum 5 minutes
  • Intended to minimise chaotic energy from entering the home, helping maintain a safe sanctuary to retreat to 🧘 🧘‍♂️
• Sound-managed home environment
  • Noise barriers at the front of the house
  • White-noise machines masking street sounds
  • Through a Dog’s Ear playlist playing continuously in shared spaces (apparently recommended for anxious dogs... lucky for the human if they like classical music!)
• Low-stimulation living area with natural light, airflow, and visual calm
• Safe zones in every room for self-directed retreat
• Controlled sensory input: consistent scents, gentle lighting, breathable fabrics, etc.
• Gradual, controlled introductions to trusted individuals to build social confidence and maintain emotional stability
• Massages on demand
  • Signalled by his signature chin-lift and expectant stare until his carer “got to work”
  • Then repositioning himself with surgical precision to present the exact area requiring attention
• Love & care
• A place to call home
• Family

WHY WOULD SDCH’S DONATIONS PAGE SAY “WE’RE THERE THROUGH THICK AND THIN... WHEN NO ONE ELSE CAN BE”... AND YET SEIZE ROOFUS FROM HIS ADOPTING CARER AFTER THEY...

• Asked why he hadn’t received the necessary medical treatment for the many months in their care
• Requested for his medical records with the adoption papers
• Sought treatment for Roofus's pre-existing conditions
• Asked for Roofus to be seen directly by a vet before dispensing medication
• Asked to speak with a vet directly regarding Roofus's newly prescribed medications,
• Questioned prescribing practices/continuity of care practices
• Questioned this waiver (which as provided with the adoption form)

HOW CAN SDCH CLAIM TO COVER ALL THESE ANIMAL CARE COSTS WHEN ITS OWN 2024 ANNUAL REPORT SHOWS $0 CLEARLY ALLOCATED TO ANIMAL CARE?

Roofus’s case shows that foster carers and donors shoulder the real costs of care — providing the shelter, rehabilitation, daily needs, and even basic supplies out of their own pockets.

For almost his entire time under the shelter’s ownership (aside from his first week on intake, and since the seizure), Roofus lived in foster care – not in the shelter itself. The few items he came with were ill-fitting, unsuitable, or made him sick.

Why would they refer an ex-colleague’s behavioural therapy business for urgent support (once Roofus’s adoption was finalised), if they were offering “training with their Pawsitive Behavioural Consultants”?

Why would the vet thank the carer for their thoughtful rehab work with Roofus, rather than suggest accessing their Pawsitive Behavioural Consultants?

“TROUBLE” BREEDS "LIKE ROOFUS" SEPARATED FROM OTHER DOGS AND RECEIVE FEWER WALKS

A former volunteer dog walker has shared that dogs like Roofus are usually separated and don’t go on as many walks since they require a dedicated dog walker.

How is being back at the shelter better than Roofus being able to walk the same route at the same time(s) each day with his carer – when how he was feeling that day (or recently) was factored into how many walks he did and for how long?

IS ROOFUS A GOOD BOY?

Sensing his carer’s increasing distress as the hours passed in that enclosed room, Roofus spent some of his last moments being silly, flipping onto his back and wriggling around like a worm, his fail-safe comedic relief tactic. Despite the sheer panic he had during the entire car ride (the shelter had informed the carer he was scared of car rides), the hypervigilance he displayed in the shelter environment (the carer and their support person witnessed Roofus growling for the first-time ever when he growled at the vet and shelter manager upon seeing them), the sadness he showed being back in the shelter, he still tried to bring joy to his carer when he saw they needed a cheer up.

How can Roofus be a dangerous dog?

AT WHAT POINT DOES “NEGLECT” BECOME HARM?

Who will be there when he is scared, sad, hurt, and lonely??

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WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Obviously, we are in a situation we were not prepared for... we were just hoping to get some transparency and to know if Roofus is ok. Instead, we seem to have landed in some grey zone of institutional apathy... where Roofus’s safety was ignored by every institution his carer sought help from (the RSPCA, the police, the council).

We still have a glimmer of hope for Roofus. But we certainly need to make sure this doesn’t happen to another animal or carer again. Top execs have been with the shelter for decades so its abhorrent this has happened under their watch.

It is a bit like... “how do we put the cat back in the bag??” We were just trying to find out where a cute dog was...  Aren’t there enough problems? What difference can we make when these institutions have been here for decades?...

Look, sticking our heads in the sand won’t change this for the better.

CHANGE HAPPENS IN THE MICRO-MOMENTS, WHEN WE DON’T ALL JUST NOD ALONG.

That exhaustion you feel is by design... institutions expect outrage to burn out. Change doesn’t have to be an overwhelming effort if we come together.

1) Don’t nod along

Bullies need our groupthink to behave unchecked.

2) Spread awareness

The public needs to know. This happened through opacity and secrecy; this can be reversed with transparency and awareness. Share, share, share with anyone you think would care.

3) Don’t stay silent on bad behaviour

Emotions are our body's ancient alarm system. Disgust is one of the clearest signals we have that something is deeply wrong. Don’t gaslight yourself into thinking it doesn’t matter – it does. Your voice matters.

If you had a bad experience and think others would like to be warned, write a review. Give it as much detail as you feel would be helpful or have the energy for. Businesses expect people to escalate internally to exhaustion, grumble, and walk away. Put your experience on record so you can save others from going through what you went through.

4) Got other ideas? Act on them

With the combined brain power, resources, and connections of all us, we certainly should be able to chip away at this problem. Institutions count on individual critics to burn out with outrage, but they are no match for distributed power.

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REMINDER TO ROOFUS SUPPORTERS: PLEASE PRIORITISE YOUR SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

We are aware that Roofus supporters have received defamatory attacks and that posters are being removed or defaced. The defamatory attacks are hostile and illegal, especially inappropriate considering our only demand is transparency. 

Is there a kids' game going on to see who finds the most posters? It has been school holidays after all... As it took time for supporters to put up the posters, we kindly request that children simply mark their finds with a sharpie (as some considerate souls have already been doing) rather than collecting them.

The unintended consequence of removing the posters is reducing public awareness around a serious concern... perhaps this is a teaching moment? They would likely be horrified to learn that they are unintentionally silencing whistleblowers and what impact this would have on an innocent animal. Please print a new set of posters here if your kids would like to keep their own copies >

If you are feeling distressed, please don’t suffer in silence – you are not alone.

Here are some free services available 24/7 Australia-wide.

• Lifeline (13 11 14)
• Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636)

If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

If you don’t yet have a Mental Health Care Plan with subsidised therapy sessions, your GP can help set one up.

If you need legal support, you can access free community legal services.

If you are worried about someone else or supporting someone affected (who is not in immediate danger), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) is available 24/7. It might not be a bad idea to check in on those you care about – after all, who doesn’t like to be reminded that they matter?