Community & Business
5 June, 2025
Charity tackles animal suffering
A CHARITY, which is tackling growing animal suffering in Far North Queensland’s indigenous and remote communities, is asking the public to help.
Remote Animal Assistance FNQ (RAA) estimates that over 10,000 puppies suffer and die annually across 12 indigenous and remote communities due to a lack of resources.
Founder Jess Leeming said that urgent funding was needed to not just rescue and rehome animals, but to drive systemic, long-term change through community education, strategic desexing programs, and sustainable partnerships.
“Currently discarded dogs face severe suffering, starvation, untreated injuries, and parasite infestations,” she said.
“Diseases like Ehrtichiosis (E. canis) can spread easily, posing serious biosecurity risks.
“Many stray animals eventually die without proper containment measures. Dogs who are impounded are humanely euthanised with a bolt gun and are discarded at the local dump (not in bags).
“Urgent action is needed to address this growing problem, and we are currently calling out to the corporate world for immediate short-term donations while we work on developing consistent operational funding and sustainable partnerships.”
Ms Leeming said that since RAA’s inception in September 2022, the charity had saved more than 300 animals including 273 dogs and 17 cats, with additional animals transferred to partner rescues.
“With additional financial and human resources, RAA could extend its reach to all remote indigenous communities in Far North Queensland and potentially into the Northern Territory and remote New South Wales,” she said.
Donations can be made through the RAA website: remoteanimalassistance.com/donate.
