FEATURE - A new life, four paws at a time

Founded in May 2005, 4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc has become a lifeline for countless homeless dogs and cats across Queensland. With the guiding mantra of “New Home, New Life”, this all-volunteer organisation is proof that love and compassion can create powerful change

By Victoria McGuin

An integral part of the 4 Paws team is Beverley Parry, cat adoption and foster coordinator, and part-time marketing assistant, and we took the time to chat with her recently and find out more about this special organisation. 

 “I just love seeing a cat or dog find a new home,” Beverley says brightly. “Even if it’s just a foster home, it means we’ve made room for another animal that desperately needs help.

“Julie, our president, started it all. She and her husband owned a pharmacy in Woombye, and Julie used to deliver prescriptions to elderly clients who couldn’t get out. While visiting them, she’d often see pets that needed vet care but weren’t getting it. That’s when she realised how big the need was.”

And so, 4 Paws was born — out of kindness, community, and a fierce determination to help animals who had no voice of their own.

Beverley herself joined three years ago. Her first gig? “Sausage sizzles at Bunnings,” she laughs. “I’d just finished a certificate in social media marketing and offered to help in that area too. Then in May 2023, I took on cat adoptions and fosters. Now I’m also part of the committee.”

It’s a busy life. Volunteers like Beverley juggle morning cattery duties, vet transport, event fundraisers, admin work, and fostering — all without pay.

“Our volunteers are absolutely vital,” Beverley says. “We’re 100% volunteer-run. We couldn’t do this without them.

“We have other volunteers that help at the cattery each morning, some assist with driving animals too/from the vets. A team of volunteers that assist with the Sausage

Sizzles. We have a treasurer – Suzannne,  secretary – Kate, and most recently we lost our Vice President, Bev F.” She pauses, her voice softening.

“Bev was with 4 Paws for over 15 years. A powerhouse. She started as a pharmacy customer and ended up being one of our most dedicated volunteers. She’d put her hand to anything.”

The joy in Beverley’s work is clear, but so too are the challenges.

“Finding enough foster carers is a constant struggle,” she says. “People don’t realise how much we rely on them.”

Then there’s the reality of strict council regulations. “On the Sunshine Coast, cats have to be indoors at all times. It’s for their safety, and for wildlife protection. But not everyone likes that. Our adoption process is rigorous, and people sometimes get upset.”

She’s unapologetic about the high standards. “It’s not about ticking boxes. We want every cat and dog to go to a home where they feel safe and loved — forever. It’s not just ‘bums on seats’.”

What keeps Beverley going are the success stories — and the funny ones.

“There’s dear little Jack,” she recalls fondly. “He came to us at 13. His foster carers adored him but couldn’t afford vet bills. So we made him a permanent foster, which means 4

Paws covers his medical costs. Now he’s living his best life.”

Then there was Tilly. “A lovely couple wanted to foster. Two days later, they adopted her.

Couldn’t bear to let her go!”

Some animals leave a unique impression. “Johnny was a tabby with so much personality,”

Beverley laughs. “His foster mum sent me a video — he dragged her bikini top across the living room by the string, then stashed it under the bed like some sort of prize.”

And then there’s Norman.

“Norman’s a bit of a rogue — a Chihuahua-Pomeranian mix. Julie, our president, took him in. She used to joke she’d go to bed wondering if she’d wake up with all her fingers and toes still intact. But he’s got that kind of charm.”

Not every story has a happy ending.

“The hardest part is seeing animals put to sleep,” Beverley says quietly. “And the emails — people wanting to surrender pets, often for sad reasons. It’s heartbreaking. You want to help them all, but you can’t.”

So how does she cope?

“I remind myself of the good we can do. When I match a cat with a loving family, I go home with a full heart. I talk to my family about it — the wins, the transformations. It helps.”

As always, 4 Paws needs foster carers, donations, and time. “Even just helping out at a sausage sizzle makes a big difference,” Beverley says, because behind every success is someone who gave a little — and an animal who gained a whole new life.

“Every day brings its challenges,” Beverley says, “but the rewards? They far outweigh the negatives. They’re beyond words. Watching a once-neglected animal curl up in someone’s arms… that’s everything.”

4 Paws Animal Rescue / 4pawsanimalrescue.org.au / 0438 34660