🙏 PLEASE SHARE TO KEEP ROOFUS VISIBLE 🙏

Public attention is the only real pressure for transparency. 

 

 

On Aug 4, 2025, Sydney Dogs & Cats Home seized Roofus from his carer, after they:

• Asked why he hadn’t received 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 (provided with the adoption form)

 

 

• Why didn't he receive the care he needed? 
• Why hadn't he had a proper vet check?
• How could his anxiety be a reason for why he couldn't see a vet?
• Why wasn't his anxiety treated so he could see a vet?
• If he was too anxious to see a vet, why wasn't he too anxious for foster care?
• Why did the shelter team minimise raised health concerns?
• Why did the shelter team say there were no medical notes or background available?
• Why were there no medical notes?

This is a dog that the shelter had deemed too anxious to have a proper vet check, both at intake and when he had acute pain. They noted he was so scared of their handling that they couldn't vaccinate him. They couldn’t even confirm if they knew whether this short-haired staffy was desexed initially.

And yet the shelter manager determined that morning that he needed to come in urgently for an ‘in-person vet consult’ – where if he weren’t brought in immediately, there would be people sent for him.

 

 

MEDICAL QUESTIONS RAISED

From the day Roofus arrived, his carer flagged serious medical concerns and asked for his medical notes, but was repeatedly told not to worry and that notes didn’t exist.

The ongoing paw pain, gut issues, and severe anxiety were “just shelter stress”. 

Roofus had only spent a single week in the shelter before being placed in foster care. If the shelter environment was so distressing that it could cause long-lasting issues, why would any animal be returned there when other options were available?

 

 

LACK OF EXPLANATION

No concrete reason was provided for his removal.

No clarity was offered about why he had to remain in-hospital, without visitation, for an indefinite period. What was particularly concerning was the shelter manager, who is not a veterinary professional, claiming Roofus had behavioural problems because he growled at her and the treating vet. Yet Roofus, who is known as a gentle and affectionate dog in the community, has never shown aggression. In fact, those are the only two people he has ever growled at.

 

 

PROMISED UPDATES NOT RECEIVED

Daily updates were promised, but none were received.

His profile has also been curiously removed from the shelter’s website, even though other past and present animals remain visible.

 

 

 

WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

He’s endured a hard life, living with untreated injuries, chronic anxiety, and neglect — none of it his fault. He finally had a safe place, with care, stability, and a yard of his own. That was suddenly taken away, without explanation. He deserves to come home.

 

 

A dog should never disappear without answers. 

This isn't just about Roofus. Roofus represents every animal that doesn't have a voice. 

Sign to demand transparency.

 

 

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AMPLIFY YOUR VOICE

Save & share to help end the silence.

Follow @voices4roofus on Instagram >

Printable A4 posters – download here >

 

 

Stickers – email voices4roofus@protonmail.com to receive yours in the mail 

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QUESTIONS SDCH REFUSES TO ANSWER 

 

 

Unanswered questions PDF – see here a non-comprehensive list of the questions they won't answer >

Some examples:

#35: How can anxiety be cited as a valid reason for not providing care?

#64: Why aren't carers allowed to speak directly with vets about medication side-effects and dosing?

#67: Why are non-health professionals not relaying carer medical concerns to vets?

#65: Why are non-health professionals providing non-vet-endorsed medical advice? 

#43: How can medications be prescribed without the patient being seen?

#53: Why were earlier symptoms dismissed as 'shelter stress' yet the same shelter is now positioned as the appropriate treatment environment?

Are these questions unreasonable? How can they be ignored repeatedly? Is this standard?