Companion Care Foundation’s charity shop opened in Boolaroo last week.

Proceeds from the shop go towards the foundation’s Care For Pets program, which provides support for companion animals when their owners are unwell.

This includes at-home visits to care for or clean up after animals when their owners are sick or unable to manage themselves, and short-term foster care when the animal’s owner is admitted to hospital.

A team of about 25 volunteers works around the clock to look after dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs – even chickens.

Often the volunteers take the animals in foster care to visit their owners in the hospital or nursing home.

Most of the time the animals are reunited with their owners, but in some cases, animals have to be re-homed.

Care For Pets founder Neroli Sneddon said the job had its ups and downs, but it was always rewarding.

“We have been able to assist many isolated people whose main concern has been their companion animal,” she said.

Mrs Sneddon is currently fostering a black poodle, Cooper, and a white spoodle, Cassie, whose owner has spent a short stint in hospital.

She said she was delighted to take the pups in, who were like “ebony and ivory” and always went everywhere together.

The Care For Pets program is just one facet of the Companion Care Foundation.

With the proceeds from the charity shop, the foundation hopes to add on new programs, including a community visitors scheme, which would focus more on assisting clients with their everyday needs.

Mrs Sneddon, who is the foundation’s managing director, said the foundation wanted to “develop the people side of the organisation”.

You can help by checking out the charity shop. A range of donated goods are for sale, including vinyl records, rare books, jewellery, children’s clothes and toys.