While Cupcake Day is a special day for RSPCA NSW each year, it’s one of even greater significance for Dubbo local Barbara.
Back in 2009, Barbara’s path crossed with a little dog in need, and she never looked back as they formed a powerful bond at a pivotal moment in both of their lives.
“She was found by the rangers about 5am on Cupcake Day 17 years ago. She was tossed against the pound gates up here in Dubbo,” Barbara said.
“Her age was indeterminate at the time, but she was probably a week old. They got her vetted and my husband worked at the council and one of the rangers who was in his department rang me and asked if I would foster her.
“I was going through a lot of personal stuff at the time, and I decided to go and have a look at her and that was the end of it.
“She fitted in my hand when we first got her and she just sat on the seat beside me in my truck going home to the farm, she kept looking at me and I kept looking at her and it was just like, you know, this is going to be a forever dog.
“I hadn’t had an indoor dog like her. I’d had blue cattle dogs and that kind of thing on the property, and she was a big change for us, but a very, very precious one.
“I was going through chemo at the time for breast cancer and she was a great comfort to me. She took my mind off the worst of the treatments.
“She’s been with me for 17 years and she’s the most precious thing in my life.”
Found on RSPCA NSW’s annual Cupcake Day, there was only ever one name in mind for Barbara’s new best friend: “It’s a very special day for me because of her and when we decided on a name for her, I said to John, ‘Well, she’s got to be Cupcake because of Cupcake Day!’.”
Still calling Dubbo home today, Cupcake has become a familiar figure around town and is unsurprisingly a favourite with kids.
“Everybody in the state knows her, she’s been around horse shows all her life and I take her every afternoon to pick up my great granddaughters from school,” Barbara said.
“All the kids come rushing up to say hello to Cupcake – so she’s a bit of a star around the kids.”
Though Barbara and Cupcake won’t be able to bake this year for Cupcake Day, they remain active supporters of RSPCA NSW and will always have fond memories of the day that brought them together.
“It does mean a lot to. Being able to help animals through RSPCA NSW means everything to me. There’s too much abandonment of animals today and the RSPCA does a wonderful job.”
Host a Cupcake Day party on Thursday 17 September (or a day that suits you) and raise funds to help animals in need. Sign up here!
