RSPCA NSW CEO and Yagoona Manager Steve Coleman says the series runs across three episodes, with the first released on Monday and the next two on July 12 and 19.
“The episodes focus on our inspectors, vets and community teams and how the work they do impacts on them as many of their experiences are harrowing,” Steve said.
“I’ve seen the first episode and it’s very compelling viewing. One of the stories is about an inspector who joined police on a manhunt to find the perpetrator who had tried to bash eight puppies to death.
“He succeeded with seven but our inspector rescued the eighth; he explains how the experience affected him personally.”
Steve says society has come a long way in the last century and a half thanks to the RSPCA supporting animals and creating awareness about animal welfare.
“You would have been laughed at years ago for saying animals are sentient [referring to the ability of animals to feel and experience emotions such as joy, pleasure, pain and fear] but that is what drives the animal welfare movement and is the reason why animal protection laws exist ,” he said.
“We’ve also created a market for rescue animals and don’t euthanise as many, protection policies have progressed a lot and we are no longer just reactive but proactive with our programs and feel in this way, we are also helping animals that are not even in our care.”
To see ‘Stories Behind The Scars’, visit rspcansw.org.au.
