Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Araluen Valley’s Cecil Herbert bestowed a great legacy to his granddaughter, Eurobodalla RSPCA volunteer Leanne Manning – his love for animals.
“Pop had an amazing way with animals,” she said.
“He was kind and gentle and he passed it on to us. He taught us so much about animals, especially that the main three things were kindness, patience and love.”
Unfortunately, her grandfather’s kindness gave her a distorted view of relations between people and animals.
“I thought everybody treated animals well, and I got a rude shock to find that wasn’t the case,” she said.
“I saw cats and dogs malnourished and going through garbage, and astounding acts of cruelty. Now, my whole life revolves around animals. They seem to respond to me.”
She says her love for animals is due to the unconditional love they provide.
“But this also means they depend on you to feed them, look after them and clean up their mess,” she said.
“People don’t realise it’s a life commitment.”
As one of Eurobodalla RSPCA’s 25 volunteers, she tries to pass on her compassion for and knowledge of animals.
“I make people aware of desexing programs and how to treat animals without violence,” she said.
“I also encourage people to report any animal cruelty before it gets out of hand, but not to try to deal with matters themselves.”
She doesn’t have a favourite animal.
“Goldfish, dogs, cats – they are all worthy of having a good life,” she said.
She and the other Eurobodalla RSPCA volunteers are tasked with finding homes for animals and looking after them until they are homed.
“You bond with them when they are in your care, and sometimes there are tears when you hand them over to their new owners,” she said.
The most unusual animal Ms Manning has looked after was a ferret.
“They are very smart, funny creatures, but you have to be careful you don’t get your fingers eaten off,” she said.
She is proud of what her and her fellow volunteers have achieved in the five years the Eurobodalla branch has operated.
“We have re-homed over 100 animals, and I am so grateful to those that have supported us.”