An eight-year-old Shit Zhu with mammary lumps and tumours; Larry the cat, who had feline AIDS. 

NEAST covers the substantial vet costs to treat these animals, and then passes them on to their new families healthy and happy, only charging the usual adoption fee. 

But this practice means they have over $2000 in overdue vet fees.

A fundraising drive organised by one of their foster carers, Sarah Pollock, is hoping to help them get back into the red. 

Money raised will also go towards feeding, desexing, and vaccinating costs for incoming animals, including nine puppies that are being delivered on Wednesday. 

Ms Pollack said she felt driven to start the fundraising drive after being touched by the hard work of the shelter. 

“They take on all the hard cases,” she said.

“They’re not afraid to take on something that’s going to take some time and some effort, whereas other rescues say no. 

“Michelle [Jesson] started it, it’s her dream, and then Megan [Barker] is her right-hand lady, and they both just do such an amazing job and help so many animals.”

Michelle Jesson started the shelter about three years ago on her property at Herrick, near Derby. 

She and her husband converted two outbuildings on their 25-acre property into catteries, and installed a dog run on the grounds. 

They hope to expand the facilities further in future, Ms Jesson said.

“I love animals,” she said. 

“As a kid I never had animals growing up, and my husband and myself never had kids but we’ve got five dogs of our own.

“We just thought, we can’t really get any more, but what can we do to help more animals?” 

They are also reaching out for community members in the North East to volunteer as foster carers for animals until they can be adopted. 

They have five carers, from as far away as Ulverstone, but could always use more. 

And of course, anyone looking to adopt an animal is more than welcome to get in touch. 

“When you foster or adopt you’re actually saving two lives,” she said.  

“You’re saving the animal that needs caring for, and you’re also giving the organisation, like us, more room and funding to take another animal on.”