25 Years of Paws, Purpose & Community: The Dickson Tradies Supports ARF
If you've popped into The Tradies during January, you might have noticed something a bit special - staff proudly sporting ARF t-shirts and collection tins dotted around the club. It's not just a fashion choice or some spare change rattling around. It’s part of our long-running support for ACT Rescue & Foster Inc. (ARF), a local organisation that’s been changing lives - four legs at a time - for 25 years.
That’s right. 2026 marks a major milestone for ARF: 25 years of rescuing, fostering, and rehoming dogs across Canberra and the surrounding region. And we think that’s something to celebrate.
More Dogs, More Love: ARF’s Impact in 2025
The need for rescue has never been greater. In 2025 alone, ARF rehomed 135 dogs, up from 110 in the year before. Of those, 69 were pups under six months old - including 52 tiny tails under 16 weeks. It’s a big job, but thanks to their dedicated network of foster carers, ARF steps up every time.
One of their proudest achievements this past year? The launch of the Last Litter program - a community-driven initiative that supports people with unplanned litters. ARF takes in the pups, ensures they’re desexed, vaccinated and trained, and even helps desex the parents to stop the cycle from repeating.
This isn’t just dog rescue - it’s a community solution to a growing challenge.
“I could not be prouder to be the President of such an amazing organisation of committed people and to meet so many amazing dogs. But we could not do what we do without support. I, and all of ARF are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of the Dickson Tradies. Your willingness to support and promote our work just means the world.”
For 25 years, ARF has been powered by this kind of passion - from volunteers, foster carers, and everyday people who simply want to give dogs a better chance. That’s the heart of ARF. And that’s what makes this milestone year so meaningful.
That work is also happening against a wider shift in how animal welfare is viewed across the ACT. The ACT Government has released a draft Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs, setting stronger and clearer expectations for everyone responsible for a dog, and recognising dogs as sentient beings who deserve care, protection, and meaningful human interaction. You can read the draft code in full here. While the code puts those principles into writing, organisations like ARF have been living them for decades. Through rescue, foster care, desexing programs and responsible rehoming, ARF shows what good dog welfare looks like in practice, which is exactly why The Tradies is proud to stand beside them.
How You Can Help
ARF is always on the lookout for new foster carers and volunteers. You don’t need a palace or loads of experience - just a little space in your home and a big heart. If you've been thinking about lending a hand (or a couch), now’s the time to reach out.
And if volunteering isn't on the cards right now, donations to ARF are tax-deductible - every dollar makes a difference.
Head to their website https://fosterdogs.org/ or find them on social media to keep an eye on all the exciting events they’ve got planned to celebrate their 25th year.
At The Tradies, we’ll keep wearing our ARF shirts and rattling tins with pride. But more importantly, we’ll keep standing beside this incredible local organisation - because every dog deserves a second chance, and every community is stronger when we’ve got each other’s backs (and paws).