Monika's DoggieRescue at Ingleside is delighted to invite you to a significant milestone for this well-loved dog shelter.
DoggieRescue is celebrating its 14,000 adoption, on the news that Todd, a lovely mixed breed dog, has found his fur-ever home.
The community is invited to join the celebration at Monika’s DoggieRescue, 2 McCowen Road, Ingleside, on Saturday 14 November 2026 from 12pm–4pm.
The afternoon will include a BBQ, games and activities, merchandise and fundraising to help Doggie Rescue continue caring for animals waiting for their own forever homes.
Find out more at: www.doggierescue.com
14,000 second chances: Monika’s DoggieRescue celebrates Significant Adoption Milestone
More than three decades after Monika Biernacki OAM began rescuing unwanted dogs facing euthanasia, the Ingleside based Monika’s DoggieRescue is celebrating its 14,000th adoption.
The volunteer-powered, no-kill shelter at Ingleside will mark the milestone on Saturday 14 November, bringing together adopters, volunteers, supporters and some of the thousands of dogs whose lives have been changed along the way.
For founder Monika Biernacki OAM, the 14,000 represents thousands of individual second chances for dogs that each have their own story.
“Most dogs came to us unwanted, frightened, or they’re simply out of time at the pound. Taking them in, getting them heathy and rehabilitated, then seeing them leave here as somebody’s loved family member never stops being special,” Monika said.
“Hitting 14,000 adoptions is an incredibly proud moment for all of us at DoggieRescue. This milestone belongs to our whole community of extraordinary volunteers, foster carers, supporters and corporate partners – and the 14,000 families who have opened their homes to a rescue dog!”
Monika began rescuing abandoned dogs in the 1990s and established DoggieRescue as a charity in 2001. In 2021 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to animal welfare.
Early photo of DoggieWood April 2008
DoggieRescue can have up to 200 dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs in its care at any one time and rescues around 500 dogs each year.
Behind those numbers is a huge daily volunteer effort. Dogs are fed meals prepared at the shelter by volunteers, including meat, rice and vegetables. Kennel hands begin preparing dogs and day yards from early in the morning. Volunteers walk and socialise dogs six days a week, giving them exercise as well as the one-on-one human contact that can help frightened or unsettled dogs rebuild confidence.
And then there is the washing; around 20 loads of washing every day!
“While adoptions are the wonderful end result, there is an enormous amount of care behind every single one,” Monika said.
“Dogs need to be fed, walked, cleaned, taken to vets, given medication, socialised and loved. That happens every day, including weekends and public holidays.”
DoggieRescue operates a strict no-kill policy. Once an animal enters its care, it stays safe until the right permanent home can be found - however long that takes.
“In some cases, dogs may be with us for years, or even the rest of their lives. Interest in particular breeds and sizes can come and go, but once a dog comes to Monika’s, we make a commitment to them,” Monika said
Thousands of small acts behind every adoption
Vicky Fairhurst, who has volunteered at Monika’s DoggieRescue for more than three years, said the milestone reflected the countless small things volunteers do every day.
“We see dogs arrive frightened or unsure of people, and over time you watch their personalities come back,” Ms Fairhurst said.
“Then one day the right person walks through the gate and you realise they’ve found their home. That’s what keeps you coming back.”
The shelter’s public dog-walking program has also become an important part of life at Ingleside, with registered walkers able to help exercise and socialise rescue dogs from Tuesday to Sunday.
For people unable to adopt, Monika says walking, fostering, volunteering and donating are all practical ways to give an animal a second chance.
“If you are thinking about adding a pet to your family, I encourage you to take your time, understand the commitment and consider a rescue animal. And if you can’t adopt, there are so many other ways to help.”
For Monika, the adoption captures the principle that has guided DoggieRescue for more than three decades: every dog deserves the chance to find the right home.
“Thank you to all of our supporters, volunteers and our wonderful local community for helping us reach this incredible milestone,” said Monika.
Report by Sharon Rockell
Monika Biernacki OAM with Twinkle and Finn
56,000 Paws, 14,000 Homes: A Monumental Milestone in Canine Adoptions
Congratulations to everyone at DoggieRescue on reaching an incredible milestone: 14,000 adoptions! Each one represents a dog finding a loving home—and a family gaining a loyal companion. This achievement reflects years of compassion, hard work, and dedication from the staff, volunteers, foster families, adopters, and supporters who make rescue possible. From the first wagging tail to the joyful day a dog heads home, every adoption is a story worth celebrating. Today, we honour not just a remarkable number, but the thousands of second chances behind it.
It is often said that the one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. For 14,000 adopting families this undoubtedly has proven to be true. For thirty years Monika and her volunteers have worked tirelessly to ensure that the lives of both dogs and humans have been enhanced by this relationship.
From humble beginnings in the mid to late 1990’s, in a suburban home, to the rescue centre, we now know as Doggiewood, the care, compassion and dedication of Monika, Rod and the thousands of volunteers who have assisted in that time, the face of dog rescue was transformed. Not always did everyone believe in Monika’s no-kill philosophy with some in the rescue world openly mocking the idea and saying it was an impossible dream.
If the truth be known, they may have had a point except for the dogged (no pun intended) determination of Monika to make the dream a reality. You see running a no-kill shelter is hard work – very hard work and expensive. Keeping a rescue dog safe for one day, one week, one month, one year or many years whilst it waits for a forever home, is expensive and tiring work. No wonder that many shelters, in the 1990’s, gave a rescue dog a couple of weeks to be adopted or face the grim consequences. Clearly man’s best friend deserved an alternative. Enter Monika and her team!!
For over thirty years now, the Biernacki doctrine, as I like to call it, steadily grew and became the standard for almost all rescue groups. In fact, as micro-rescue groups have grown, if they do not have a no-kill philosophy, then they have no credibility. In fact, council pounds around NSW, if not totally no-kill, have changed their philosophy dramatically, to being more compassionate and caring. And yes, I am aware that in some instances, the MOST compassionate thing for a dog is euthanasia especially if deemed necessary by one or more vets due to terminal illness.
What is very clear however, is that being no-kill is expensive. Especially at a time of rising prices and a cost-of-living crisis. This makes donations even more necessary for DoggieRescue especially as we look toward the future and next 14,000 adoptions. To be clear, it takes hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund this operation each year. In addition to donations, one of the best ways to help financially, is to leave a bequest. Happily, some have decided to do this, which has allowed DR to continue to operate in harsh economic conditions.
Whilst 14,000 dog adoptions is an amazing achievement, we should also remember that Monika and her team have also been responsible for hundreds of cat adoptions and numerous rabbit and guinea pig adoptions. All creatures great and small deserve a second chance here.
As we celebrate a remarkable milestone, I would like to consider two final points. Firstly, spare some time to remember all those dogs who arrived at DoggieRescue but died before they found their forever, loving home. Each one deserved more from humanity overall yet broke the hearts of Monika and the volunteers who grew to know them. Secondly, none of this work would be possible, without all the volunteers who have contributed to DoggieRescue over such a long time, even going back to the days before it became a registered charity. From, drivers, to feeders, to dog walkers to volunteer vets and customer service staff and all those little but important contributions too numerous to mention here, thank -you for your efforts!!
Thank you for changing lives, one adoption at a time—and here’s to many more happy beginnings together.
"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring—it was peace." - Milan Kundera
Report by: Roland Briefrel
Photo inserted: when white fluffies were popular!