RRH is taking a break!
To you, our wonderful #RRHFamily,
We have a big announcement: the rescue is taking a break.
It's been an enormous 6+ years, and we've done so many brilliant things, but as we all know the animal rescue world is rife with burnout, and RRH is not immune to that challenge. The only way to manage burnout is to take genuine space away, but for those in positions that look after a large part of the rescue's functioning it's not so easy to set up alternatives while running the show, or to find people to take things on. We've tried many things over the years to make the rescue the best space it can be for everyone involved, and we've come to the realisation that the most responsible thing to do is to take a break, and come back with fresh eyes and fresh brains to build something sustainable and targeted, instead of overextending to try and help so many people in so many ways. In a practical sense, this is all happening quite quickly due to our lease ending on the 13th of May.
The plan is to get all the animals adopted out of the physical site and foster space, and stagger the closure of all of our services over the next month. We'll be spreading out a lot of our items where they can do the most good, including selling or giving them to other local orgs to help them fill the demand while we're away, or to those adopting our remaining residents. We'll leave all the online spaces and infrastructure in place with messaging about being on a break and alternative places to seek help, and the RRH Community Group will be turned into a community-run hub for mutual aid. After a year of rest, we'll have a meeting to discuss what the community needs and what RRH should be, and if we decide to go forward with something, a further year of planning, where we can all set things up exactly how they should be before launch, taking all the lessons of the prior years to make something even better and more sustainable for all.
It is going to be absolute, all hands on deck go-time now that the plans are solid. Moving was always going to be a huge, time sensitive task, but for the rescue to take a break without getting stuck with costs for storage, and especially to get the animals all safe and well supported, there is a fresh sense of urgency. We still also have many animals in care, here and in foster, which still need vet care, and we will have ongoing costs to maintain our data storage and registrations during the break. We are all so heartbroken to have to step back from helping people and rats, but we know it's the healthy and responsible thing to do, and the only way for many of us to be able to help more people in the future.
To help us help ourselves, we will be seeking adopters, selling gear and furniture, raising funds, cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning. If anyone has any questions or needs support, please reach out, we'll all be doing our best to support each other through this difficult but ultimately good transition.
On behalf of the Coordinators and Exec (past and present) I want to thank each and every one of you for the love, energy, faith, and trust, you have given the rescue over the years. It has been a wild ride, and the community that has formed around the rescue has been an immense blessing in so many of our lives.
RRH President and Founder
In the meantime, here is some information that we hope will support you to connect with any services that you might need during our absence.
How do I find a new place for my rats? Or find rats looking for a new home temporarily or permanently?
- Animal Welfare League Queensland and RSPCA are places you can contact if you are looking to surrender, foster or adopt rats.
- Other spaces that support the relocation of rats are:
- AWLQ Pocket Pets Page: https://www.facebook.com/awlqpocketpets
- #RRHFamily Community Hub: https://www.facebook.com/groups/827153964694062
- Rat Migration and Accessories: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1749903898643259
If you find yourself in difficult circumstances, please reach out to some of the services listed below for help connecting with support, these services can connect with the RSPCA for support with Pets in Crisis too.
- DV Connect: Domestic and family violence help in Queensland (dvconnect.org)
- Homeless Persons Information Line: Homeless Hotline | Homes and housing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
- RSPCA Pets in Crisis: Pets in Crisis Program | RSPCA Queensland (rspcaqld.org.au)
Help! My rat is sick?
If you rat is sick, mild or major - they need veterinary care. Please consider a rat-savvy vet like the ones listed below for help.
- Vets for Rabbits, Birds & Other Exotic Pets - The Unusual Pet Vets
- you can also seek advice from Real Rat Lovers Want to Know | Facebook however you will need to request access to the group to seek support.
I would like to help as a volunteer with rats!
- Please check out the Pocket Pets Program within the AWLQ - Adopt a Pet (awlqld.com.au) and see what volunteer programs they have on offer!
I would like to be more connected to the rat community!
- We encourage you to join #RRHFamily Community Hub | Facebook and Queensland Rodent Fanciers Society (https://www.facebook.com/queenslandrodentfanciers)!
If you are interested in supporting RRH's ongoing operating costs (data management, governance expenses and insurance) you can find out how to donate here www.rachiesratirementhome.com/donate - we appreciate your support during our period of rest.
We hope that this answered some of the questions that you may have emailed us about but if it has not, please connect with the online rat community - there are many knowledgeable folks in that space!
We look forward to seeing you in our next chapter!