Celebrate WIRES

🦘🦘🦘 Friday the 13th of March was an incredibly important day, marking the end of 5 years & 5 days of torment for Tracy & her partner Mike who have endured many grueling court hearings along with the judgement of others who in their ignorance, thought they knew better about the rehabilitation of Dolores, the Eastern Grey kangaroo.

There were 54 supporters in attendance from all over NSW & interstate & with only 30 permitted in the courtroom, every seat was taken with the foyer holding the remaining crew.

The judge went into great detail, reviewing the original case leading to conviction by the RSPCA-referred to by WIRES-along with crucial evidence provided in the appeal hearing which changed everything.

It was an intense afternoon, so by the time the judge neared the end of her summation & it became clear that Tracy was to be exonerated, tears of joy were flowing all round; the relief palpable.

Last night we celebrated the end of this nightmare with Tracy & Mike, always mindful of the precious life, unnecessarily & unjustifiably taken in horrendous circumstances.
Two other healthy roos, almost ready for release were also seized that day.
No information has ever been provided regarding their whereabouts.

Tracy’s bravery in enduring this process reminds us all that it’s important to defend what’s right & NEVER be bullied into submission, no matter who you’re up against. Those responsible will be held to account & costs are to be awarded; hearing in June. No amount could be enough.

What many don’t know is that when Dolores was rescued, she had a 195gm joey in her pouch who was transferred to another carer, expert in raising pinkies; she was named Hope.
That tiny pinky is now almost 6 years old & has three sons, Hamish, Harrison & Harvey.
Hope is now carrying her fourth joey & lives in the wild after being released 5 years ago but returns to show off her offspring.
And so Dolores lives on in Hope.
Had it not been for Tracy taking Dolores into care, none of these lives would exist.
Ironic that so much of Tracy’s has been irreparably damaged.

To Tracy & Mike, may you now get back to enjoying your peaceful life; hopefully over time the trauma will lessen.
Nothing can erase your losses on multiple levels nor the awful experiences you’ve endured.
Know that you are very much loved, valued & deeply respected by your peers & friends for your contribution to kangaroos & wildlife rescue & for being the beautiful souls that you are. 🙏🏻xo

https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/former-wildlife-carer-s-conviction-for-animal-cruelty-overturned-20260311-p5o9ei.html?utm_source=smh-web&utm_medium=share_article&utm_campaign=environment&utm_content=subscriber+webbasic&utm_term=product_feature

Former wildlife carer’s conviction for animal cruelty overturned WIRES and the RSPCA raided Tracy Clare Dods’ Blue Mountains property and seized three kangaroos in her care. The judge criticised their “at times aggressive” behaviour.

❤️❤️❤️ To all who have supported Tracy in so many ways, she’s asked that this update be shared.

“Thank you so much to everyone who donated to the fund. We were successful in our appeal and Wildlife carers are now a little bit safer from prosecution.

I wanted to thank my legal team for the appeal who were beyond amazing, Cliff Savala from Rubicon law and Mr Rory Pettit my barrister.
Also a huge thank you to Dr Hal Ginges who ran the case in the lower court, we very much appreciate all the evidence that he raised in the lower court and could call on during the appeal.

Thank you to Dr Rosemary Austin who appeared as my expert witness ( finally! )
Thank you to the other witnesses who stood up in court for me and the ones who were standing by ready to be called, you are very much appreciated.
It’s been a long five years and the support has been amazing. Thank you to everyone who came to court over the four years and 15 court dates.
Thank you to those supporting me on social media. Please speak to each other within our wildlife care community with kindness. You might not agree on some things but when you look deeper, you will find the roots of your passions are the same; a deep love of animals, and being of service to the community.
Wildlife care is deeply complex and the system does not give the support our volunteers need.
But change will come and there are those fighting the good fight to make that happen.

To the dear little kangaroo Dolores I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. Rest now little girl.”

Thankyou for all you’ve done Tracy, not just for Dolores & all the animal lives you saved, but for your courage, decorum, unwavering tenacity & incredible kindness to all. Wildlife carers across the country can rest a little easier today.
Much love & gratitude from all of us. 🙏🏻🦘

🦘🦘🦘 Step into the vortex of Australian Native Wildlife rescue & it’s impossible to ignore the truth.

This journey unearths the ‘underworld’ of wildlife rescue throughout the country, exposing the dark side of what should be a mass collaboration of resourcefulness & human spirit.

A deeply committed, selfless community operates within a fractured sector bound by ego, money & narcissistic behavior beyond anything imaginable.

The Australian wildlife rescue community is an epic force of dedicated, compassionate volunteers, almost entirely self-funded, under strict legislative control who are the backbone of wildlife rescue & yet receive little recognition for their significant contribution to rescue & rehabilitation.
Without them, wildlife orgs would not exist & our wildlife would be lost.

It’s particularly evident that the combination of money & ego brings out the absolute worst in some humans in this sector.

Moles & trolls are ready to pounce, insinuating that genuine supporters must have an ulterior motive.

It’s a very sad indictment on humanity that in this space, a few go to great lengths to undermine the commitment of those who simply want to help others-both animal & human. And to be very clear, it’s those at the top-the executive-in their AC offices who are, IMO, at the core; completely disconnected from what’s happening on the ground.
Refusal to listen & communicate creates a massive issue.
Members are frequently disrespected, harrassed, bullied, intimidated & remain unheard.
Persistent legal threats appear designed to silence anyone challenging the false narrative.

From hands on volunteer to wildlife advocate, every individual has a role to play in the lives of those we rescue, represent & defend.

There’ll be no apology for being outspoken in defence of our wildlife & those who rescue and rehabilitate them; for speaking the truth.
You cannot expect to treat volunteers with disdain, ruin the lives of others & not be called out for your catastrophically sh*tty & insidious behavior.
The whole sector requires major reform.

Whether rescuing, caring, or advocating for our incredible community of volunteers, all are important in raising awareness for the ones who matter the most & are the reason we’re involved in this complex cause; the preservation of our native wildlife.

To the detractors & stalkers; anyone hellbent on destroying another willing to voluntarily give up their time to contribute to the rescue & rehabilitation of Australian wildlife, in any capacity, we see through your controlling agenda, your twisted narrative & deeply toxic behavior.

None of us has to be involved; we choose to.

We don’t all have to agree but as adults, we can surely appreciate the diversity of thought & experience in the unpaid work being done by this community & FFS, be supportive!
Collaboration is key.

No amount of money, corporate connection nor perceived power makes your opinion more worthy or credible.
It apparently just makes it easier for some to relentlessly trash the reputation of others, inflict significant suffering & break the spirit of many doing what they are called to do.
To what end?

We will not be silenced & will never give up.
🦘🦘🦘

🤐WIRES are again silencing the truth.😡

My facebook posts about the unnecessary suffering of our kangas are being reported as breaching Australian or NSW law🤥

A kanga was left to suffer for 19 hours - alone and in imense pain.😭

His story will not be silenced.🫡🦘⚖️

🆘🆘🆘

🤬 🤬 Why did WIRES leave this 🦘 kangaroo to suffer for 19 hours?

A concerned member of the public called WIRES 4 times over 3 hours and WIRES did nothing!🥺

WIRES could have asked another local rescue group to help this kanga - they chose not to! 😭

🆘 Wildlife rescuers are volunteers and cant be available 24/7, nor should they be expected to be. WIRES to refusal to reach out to another rescue group to help is unacceptable.

🤬 WIRES then told the MOP they had contacted the local police to go and shoot the kanga. What?
🤬 So rather than call another wildlife group to help, WIRES call the police?
🤬 And WIRES decide to shoot the kanga without giving any him assessment - just shoot him!

Its not the 🙏 volunteers fault, but they get the abuse.
When a volunteer attends a rescue such a long time after the MOP has phoned for help, they are abused for not being quick enough to respond - It’s NEVER the WIRES PAID MANAGEMENT💩 that gets abused, just the volunteer.

🤔 Animal cruelty doesn’t apply to WIRES management.
WHY NOT? If a wildlife rehabilitator was to allow an animal to suffer for 19 hours - WIRES would report them to the RSPCA to be prosecuted for aggravated animal cruelty. A disgraceful double standard!

💰This is so wrong.
WIRES have received over $130 million in revenue during & since the 2019-2020 black summer bush fires. They have over $70 million in the bank, yet still cant respond adequately to reports of injured wildlife. Animals are left to suffer and rescuers left to face an angry public.🤬

⛔️ WIRES inability to act in accordance with their NSW NPWS license to help this kanga is unacceptable.

⛔️ If WIRES cant manage the rescue, then they should contact someone who can.

🙏 Please don't donate to WIRES.
If you really want to help our wildlife, please donate directly to a shelter or carer - that's where the real work is happening 👍🏻.

🥰 If you care about our wildlife, please like and share this post.

🤬 Why did WIRES abandon her?🤬

Her name is Sophie and she had been without her mum for at least 2 weeks.

At around 9 months old, Sophie cant survive without her mum. 😭

A concerned member of the public called WIRES numerous times over 10 days, to ask them to help Sophie - WIRES didn't.

Out of desperation, the MOP called another rescue group, who immediately responded and placed Sophie into the care of a dedicated rehabilitator, where she will be loved and protected. 🥰

😔 Why didn’t WIRES care about Sophie?

💰This is so wrong.
WIRES have received over $140 million in revenue during and since the 2019-2020 black summer bush fires. They still have over $60 million in the bank and at least 60 full time paid staff, yet still cant respond adequately to reports of orphaned, or injured wildlife.🤬

🆘 Wildlife rescuers are volunteers and cant be available 24/7, nor should they be expected to be, but WIRES could have asked another local rescue group to help Sophie - WIRES chose not to! 👎🏿

🤔 Why doesn’t animal cruelty apply to WIRES management?
If a wildlife rehabilitator allowed an animal to suffer for 10 days - WIRES would report them to the RSPCA to be prosecuted for aggravated animal cruelty. A disgraceful double standard!

WIRES is required, under their NSW NPWS license, to respond within 40 minutes to assist injured or orphaned wildlife. To ignore the plight of Sophie and many others like her, shows how little they seem to care - WIRES must be held to account.

🙏 Please never donate to WIRES.
If you really want to help our wildlife, please donate directly to a shelter or carer - that's where the real work is happening. There is a link in the comments to a list of carers needing help.

🥰 If you care about our wildlife, please like and share this post.

The $100 million windfall that quickly turned from a blessing into a curse With Barack Obama and Ellen DeGeneres plugging the cause, donations poured into a bushfire emergency fund. Infighting followed.

🦘🦘🦘The Australian Wildlife Protection Council (AWPC) provides a comprehensive overview of Tracy Dods’ case-Dods vs RSPCA-in this article, with Tracy’s appeal judgement to be heard in Sydney’s Parramatta District Court on March 13, 2026.

The outcome of this appeal has serious implications in terms of setting a precedent for all those who take on the selfless role as wildlife rescuers and carers, across the country, often with little to no support from the organisations under whom they work as volunteers.

The injustice is astounding.
The support for Tracy, overwhelming.

Links to the most recent SMH article and her story on The Project are provided along with a link to the GoFundMe, supporting Tracy with her legal costs for her appeal against the charge of Aggravated Cruelty.

As always
🙏🏻

Volunteer wildlife care in the spotlight: Inside the Tracy Dods case - Australian Wildlife Protection Council Tracy Dods at her property with a friend Share this page Volunteer wildlife care in the spotlight: Inside the Tracy Dods case When a volunteer wildlife carer faces prosecution, the issue isn’t just about one animal. This case raises big questions that concern all people who love Australian wildlif...

Tracy’s wildlife care landed her with a criminal record. Was she unfairly treated? An expert who taught former WIRES volunteer Tracy Dods how to care for injured kangaroos told the District Court the prosecution was “unfair and unfounded”.

😡😡😡 WIRES proxy page PW have stooped to an all-time low.
So called welfare issues-multiple-aired at the abject failure of Responsible Persons to permit such publication.

It seems that WIRES are going all out to justify their ‘Welfare Team’-aka ‘Inspectorate’ and their punitive actions.

It totally contravenes WIRES’ Duty of Care to their members for PW to publish such items and for current board members to interact with this page, as they’re frequently seen to do.

This is NOT what wildlife carers deserve.
Members’ mental heath should not be jeapardised further by publishing such rubbish with many members already feeling extremely fragile. No-one needs to read these speculative stories , sanctioned by the organisation who should only be providing support.

Such disgraceful behaviour provides yet another example of why a large proportion of members have chosen to stand up, speak out against current persistent and historical bullying, harrassment and intimidation, demanding change.

There’s very good reason why WIRES is being challenged in the Supreme Court of NSW and faces multiple FairWork and SafeWork hearings.