Help Save Ziggy

My name is Bec, and I posted today about a dog I’ve tried to save. After an overwhelming amount of comments and messages suggesting that I do a go fund me to try help Ziggy (named after his scars that are like a zig zag) , thought about Harry (Harry Potter), zoro all because of the markings.

We are trying to work and team up with a foster rescue but will keep working on it.

any funds raised will pay for his teeth surgery, and medical vet costs.

in the mean time we will cover his de sexing and get him microchipped and work on fattening him up and and training him, and give him best chance possible.

BELOW IS THE POST I MADE, with a bit of history about why and how. - the post tht had people suggest I create this go fund me.

Thanks for reading. I know many are doing it tough and he’s one of many that need help.

What can I do now ?

Im writing this with a heavy heart, and honestly, I’m not even sure what to do anymore. All I know is that I acted out of love, and maybe I was wrong in how I went about it—but I truly just wanted to help.

Last week, I saw a post in a local Facebook group asking for urgent help with a black and white male dog who had wandered into a family caravan park. He had literally gone up and knocked on someone’s door—just looking for help. A kind family staying there fed him and looked after him for the weekend, but the park managers said they couldn’t allow him to stay and had given a deadline: the council would be called by midday. The person who posted said they'd tried to find the owner but hadn’t had any luck and were pleading for someone to collect him before it was too late.

The comments were heartbreaking—people saying he looked like a bait dog or had been abused. I acted quickly, jumped in the car and started driving. I thought the park was local, but it ended up being a 2-hour trip. Still, I’d committed—and I couldn’t just leave him.

When I arrived, I could see straight away he was young—probably around a year old. He wasn’t microchipped, not desexed, but had such a gentle look in his eyes. He seemed scared but sweet, like he’d just had a rough time and didn’t know where else to go. Maybe he’d had a moment of weakness, maybe he was dumped, maybe just lost—but he was clearly seeking help.

I took him straight to the vet. No chip. Over the last week, I’ve done everything I can. I’ve contacted several foster groups (including one I’ve supported before), offered to pay for his desexing, and even offered to foster him myself. That’s when I learned that foster agencies can’t legally take in strays—they have to be formally surrendered through council first. I had no idea.

I listed him on the RSPCA Lost & Found site and combed through potential matches. One looked like a possible owner, but they’ve since stopped responding when I asked if they had a few more photos—maybe it wasn’t their dog after all. I had truly hoped he was just lost and I could keep him safe in the meantime.

Today, I took him back to the vet. He still has no chip. They confirmed he needs about $2,000 in dental work from trauma, and he has scars on his face that may be from being used as a bait dog. Despite all that, he’s been so gentle with my female dog, calm around kids, responsive on the lead, and eager to please. He’s mildly food-aggressive—which makes sense, given what he’s likely been through—but he’s trying so hard to be good & he listens when we tell him no.

I really thought I could help. I thought I could give him a safe place, cover some vet costs, and support him in finding a forever home. But now I’m being told that since I’ve cared for him like he’s mine for one week during this process, I have to officially surrender him through RSPCA—which involves lengthy paperwork, an assessment, and a very real possibility of euthanasia. (& they treat me like I am giving him up & dont want him like I’ve had him for his life)…..I thought okay to get him into a foster program, they say take him in as a stray - I’ve tried to do this and now he is classes as a surrender. If we just said we had found him today, not the case, but wanted to give him the best change with all the information & show I cared & his history of the last week & what we knew.

People in the area he came from have told me bluntly that a dog like this—scarred, unclaimed, possibly used for fighting—won’t be given a fair chance there. And that’s devastating.

All I’ve done is try to give him a bit of kindness and safety. I didn’t realise how strict the process is or how hard it would be to find him help. I’ve contacted the local council, vets, two rescue organisations, and two shelters in that area & here in Brisbane. I’ve genuinely tried everything I can think of.

If anyone out there has ideas, contacts, advice, or another option—please, let me know. I know I can’t save every dog. But I just wanted to try do the right thing. Now, I’m heartbroken thinking that my effort may have only delayed the same heartbreaking outcome as now the RSPCA are guiting me for hanging onto dog saying Im now giving him up as I acted as his owner. I feel like Ive failed big time & that I have to take him back to the council he is from 2 hrs away….all to probably be put down.

I’m sorry I have failed him.