Just off Goodwood Road, between Childers and Bundaberg, sits 65 acres that have become a second chance for thousands of dogs.
You’ll find rows of kennels, a solitary space for dogs needing a little more peace and quiet, a top pen, caretaker’s cottage, sheds filled with supplies and two large play yards where four-legged residents can stretch their legs and burn off some energy.
Red Collar Rescue Inc. was established in 2009 and registered as an organisation the following year, with one fairly simple mission: to provide refuge and new homes for dogs that have been abandoned, surrendered, abused, unwanted or facing euthanasia.
Since then, more than 4,800 dogs have been rescued and rehomed.
Some arrive from pounds, saved from ‘death row’. Others are surrendered by families unable to provide the type of home their pet needs. Some arrive with names; others are given one when they get there. Some bound towards people, while others need a little more convincing that the human approaching their kennel is someone they can trust.
At the time of Chitchat’s visit, around 35 dogs were calling the refuge home.
The not-for-profit charity is primarily run by Sharyn and Russell Banks, with volunteers helping keep the wheels turning.
Caretaker Karen lives on the property, meaning someone is there overnight as well as throughout the busy days. There are kennels to clean, lawns to mow, maintenance jobs to tackle, bowls to fill and plenty of dogs wanting a little attention. “We just try to give them the best life we can while they are here,” Karen said.
Volunteers are welcome.
Looking after the dogs isn’t all medications, mowing and cleaning kennels. Sometimes the job is simply to sit with a dog.
Karen encourages the community to bring a book. Bring your knitting. Settle in and let one of the 4-legged residents join you. For a dog learning to become comfortable around people again, that quiet companionship can be enormously valuable.
There are opportunities for other adventures too, including taking suitable dogs out for a trip to the beach before bringing them back to the refuge.
Help is welcomed in the mornings from around 7.30am until lunchtime, seven days a week. Whether you’re handy with maintenance, happy cleaning kennels or would rather provide some one-on-one company, there’s usually something to do.
Considering Adoption?
Anyone who has fallen in love with a puppy photo online knows how quickly the heart can overrule the head. But at Red Collar Rescue, getting a dog through the gate isn’t the finish line.
The goal is to find the right home for the right dog.
Potential adopters complete an application before meeting prospective companions, allowing Karen and the team to consider the realities of the household.
Is the yard fenced? Are there children? Does someone work full-time? Is the family looking for a couch companion, an adventure buddy or something in between?
Those puppy-dog eyes may get your attention, but they shouldn’t make the decision.
All dogs have different personalities. Karen explained that bigger dogs can sometimes face a longer wait. They aren’t always as easy to pop into the car, travel with or take for a casual walk, but that doesn’t make them any less deserving of their turn.
By the time adoption day arrives, the team has had an opportunity to discover who that dog really is beyond the kennel door.
People Have Let Them Down
There was one comment from Karen that hit hard. “The people have let them down. That’s why they’re here.”
Behind those kennel doors are all sorts of stories.
Perhaps someone chose a dog imagining how it would fit neatly into their life, only to discover the dog’s personality had other ideas.
Perhaps they brought home an irresistibly cute puppy, only to find the furniture being chewed, holes appearing in the lawn and a small ball of energy demanding far more time than expected.
For others, life simply changed. A relationship ended, housing disappeared, work changed or circumstances meant the dog no longer had a place in the plans.
Some may have been born into a litter nobody wanted. Others may have known neglect or abuse.
And then there are the heartbreaking cases where nobody stopped loving the dog at all.
A much-loved family pet develops a serious health problem. The veterinary bills climb beyond what a family can afford and surrendering the animal becomes a decision made not because they stopped caring, but because they simply cannot give it the treatment it needs.
The circumstances are different. Some are understandable. Some are difficult to comprehend.
But the dog doesn’t know the difference. It doesn’t understand the mortgage, the rental agreement, the veterinary bill or the change in someone’s circumstances. It only knows that the person, home and routine it knew are suddenly gone. For some, that means arriving at Red Collar confused and frightened. For others, trust has already been broken long before they get there.
And that is perhaps why so much effort goes into choosing what comes next. The aim isn’t simply to find another person willing to take the lead. It’s to make sure, as best they can, that this time the dog gets to stay.
An alternative to adoption.
Finding a permanent home isn’t always the only way forward. For people who love dogs but aren’t ready for a permanent commitment, fostering offers the chance to temporarily welcome one into their home.
For the dog, it means experiencing ordinary family life away from the noise and activity of the refuge—household sounds, visitors, car rides, daily routines and perhaps the discovery of the best spot on the couch. It can reduce stress while also revealing how the dog behaves in a home environment, giving the team valuable insight when searching for its eventual family.
Red Collar Rescue also offers a 30-day trial period for adoptions, recognising that a good match needs to work for both ends of the lead.
Which brings us to Karen’s advice for anyone thinking about bringing home a dog:
“Think before you commit.”
Think beyond the puppy stage. Think about the dog that might chew a shoe, dig a hole, bark when you would rather it didn’t, grow much larger than expected or turn out to have a personality completely different from the one you imagined.
Think about holidays, work, children, fencing, exercise and what happens if life changes.
Then think about the cost. The adoption price is only the beginning. Food, medications, grooming and unexpected veterinary bills can quickly become part of the household budget.
Finally, think about time. Dogs need exercise, company and something to keep that busy nose, and brain occupied. Mental stimulation can be just as important as physical exercise, particularly for energetic dogs spending time at home while their humans are at work.
Karen’s tips: Hide treats around the yard and let them sniff out their reward, or use a Kong-style enrichment toy that requires a little problem solving.
Leave the entertainment entirely up to them and you may discover your shoes, garden bed or outdoor furniture have volunteered for the job.
How Can You Help?
You don’t have to adopt a dog to change its day. You might simply have a few hours one morning and a book that needs finishing.
Red Collar Rescue is located at
459 Garryowen Road, Farnsfield,
just off Goodwood Road between Childers and Bundaberg.
If you would like to volunteer, foster or adopt, contact the refuge to find out how you can get involved.
Contact info@redcollarrescue.org or
0438 869 085.
Published Chitchat Newspaper October 2026