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Pets find safe haven during floods thanks to Congupna business

By Monique Preston

Oct 16, 2022

Haven for pets: GV Kennels and Cattery's Nicole Griffin and Jody Hafey with Brad Martin who took his dogs Kuba and Whiplash to the facility on Sunday.

While out of the flood zone themselves, the owner and workers at GV Kennels and Cattery in Congupna had little sleep on Saturday night as worried pet owners called on the business to house their pets due to flooding at their homes.

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Owner Jody Hafey said they worked until about 10am Saturday night picking up pets from Shepparton residents concerned about their homes flooding.

Ms Hafey was up again by 3am Sunday, with the real influx of animals into the kennels and cattery starting at about 4am.

In the five hours until 9am Ms Hafey said they took in more than 30 pets.

“We only had a couple of hours’ sleep and then started again,” she said of overnight Saturday.

While many people dropped off animals at the kennels, Ms Hafey’s daughter also drove into Shepparton and picked up pets belonging to a lot of people who did not have cars.

While it is mainly dogs and cats they have taken on, they also had a call on Sunday to help house rats, guinea pigs and a parrot for one family.

Ms Hafey offered the free housing for pets whose owners were flood-affected on Saturday and seeing a need for people needing somewhere safe for their pets to go during the floods.

Speaking on Saturday when she made the offer to the community, she said it was her way of helping relief efforts.

“Everyone’s about to lose everything. It is the least we can do for the community,” she said.

“We need to make sure animals are safe and people can relax knowing that.

“I know myself, I would stay (in a flood-affected area) if my animals can’t be safe.”

“It gives people peace of mind that their animals are safe.”