Helping abandoned pups takes time, dedication and donations
North Shore Dog Rescue volunteer and chef Jo Ryan doesn’t yet know how she’s going to mark National Rescue Dog Day (NRDD) on 20 May – there’s always more work to be done looking after the dogs, especially given the chaos of rescue work.
“Rescue is quite a roller coaster, so we never know what each day will bring,” she explains. “That weekend we could bring in 20 dogs. I might try and do a coffee get together (with the other volunteers), but it won’t be anything massive.
“For us, (NRDD) is about increasing awareness with the wider community around why dogs come into care, the importance of desexing, and educating the public about responsible dog ownership.”
Jo coordinates a team of other volunteers across the Sydney area from her home on the North Shore, where she helps organise longer-term dog foster-carers, and liaises with local groomers and vets to ensure the dogs get the best care possible.
A rescue dog with its distinctive ‘adopt me’ vest
My name is Zelda. Adopt me!
For Jo, the most important part of rescue isn’t the donations or the money, it’s getting to know each dog’s story and helping them find a loving home.
“They come in, you watch them grow, then seeing them find forever homes is like a doggy Cinderella story.
“In January, we got a call that there were 18 dogs on a property in 42-degree heat. We thought the puppies were going to die. So we brought them into Sydney and my house turned into a shelter. We had to make sure we had enough (resources) for 18 dogs. It was a bit crazy. The puppies all lived. Some people have come to foster for us from other rescues. For me, that was the best.”
It’s a lot of work. Last year, Jo helped support 270 dogs alone, financed through community donations and by fellow volunteer and president Sue Barker from parent organisation, Dog Rescue Newcastle.
“In the last six months (of 2025), the vet bills totalled over $330,000 across both areas,” Jo tells NL. “We’re completely volunteer run, registered as a non-profit organisation. The adoption fees only go so far to cover the dogs that come in our care. Sue, she’s a legend. She’s incredible.”
You can help support North Shore Dog Rescue and its work at dogrescuenewcastle.com.au, or by following on social media.