Pet Memorial Garden

[Boronia]

There should be more of these...

http://www.gympietim...metery/2151434/

Pet Memorial Garden project completed

• 28th Jan 2014 8:00 AM

RSPCA volunteer Dale Ludcke and mate in the new Pet Memorial Garden. David Crossley

IT HAS been five years since the Rotary Club of Gympie and the RSPCA Gympie fundraising committee began fundraising for a Pet Memorial Garden, but the project has finally been completed.

The Pet Memorial Garden is a place for pet owners to grieve and have a place of remembrance for a beloved pet that has passed on.

Gympie RSPCA spokeswoman Evelyn Aldridge said this type of closure was often a necessity for those who rent, the aged or for those who have to leave their home or property.

"Pet owners can have peace of mind knowing their pet will never be forgotten," Ms Aldridge said.

She said the Rotary Club of Gympie donated money for the Remembrance Gazebo in the garden back in 2009, and this was the beginning of the fundraising effort.

In November, 2012, Gympie Regional Council and the Gympie Cooloola Club visited the RSPCA to assist with the project and by July, 2013, skill-building organisations Makro and Associates and Hartbeat Training had secured federal funding from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to build the memorial garden.

Next, the Gympie Cooloola Rotarians drew up the plans and pegged out two dog parks; one for large dogs and the other for smaller dogs.

RSPCA volunteers Russell Ludcke, Dale Ludcke and Rick Brooks chipped in to build the long-awaited park after financial assistance was granted from the council.

"The RSPCA are now delighted to announce that it will be an off-leash dog park for the general public as well as a wonderful recreational park for the RSPCA adoption dogs," Ms Aldridge said.

The Pet Memorial Garden and Dog Park will open to the public tomorrow at 10am at the Gympie Animal Care Centre, Laurenceson Rd.

Opening hours of the facilities as from February 1, will be 10am-5pm seven days a week, except public holidays.