18/10/2026
Can you support Melissa Rasches Night in a Cage- Remembering Darla Campaign?
Mel will be sleeping in a cage, similar to the cage Darla spent most of her life in on the night of 27th of October.
Every dollar raised to support LLPRAA to rescue animals like Darla will be matched by the SA Power Network Employee Foundation, effectively doubling the $ amount raised.
Please help us help them 🙏
😢 NIGHT IN A CAGE - REMEMBERING DARLA 😢
Last fortnight we did a remembrance post for Darla. We are grieving her loss EVERY SINGLE DAY. We are having trouble just ‘moving on’ from our experience with her. She was only with us for 6 weeks but our love, connection, compassion and loyalty towards her will last for the rest of our lifetime. We will never forget you Darla. And you can be certain we will not find it in ourselves to forgive the people who did this to you. We are only sorry we didn’t cross paths sooner. Who knows what ‘could have been’ . If we had just got to you sooner Baby Girl 😢
This brings us to NIGHT IN A CAGE FOR DARLA.
One of our favourite supporters and foster carers Melissa Rasche was and still is so moved by Darla’s story, she has created a fundraising event for LLPRAA where she will spend one night in a cage to raise money so we can continue to help other animals like Darla who have been abused and let down by society, all in the name of a quick buck.
On the 27th of October, Mel will sleep inside a cage, not too different from the cage Darla spent most of the first snd only year of her life in 😢.
Please consider sponsoring Mel . Every dollar raised will be matched by SA Power Networks- effectively DOUBLING YOUR DONATION 🥰
Now we’ve had our daily cry remembering Darla while trying to formulate this post, here are some words from Mel about her fundraiser…
“Hi, I’m Melissa Rasche, and I’m passionate about helping animals in need and supporting the incredible work rescue organisations do for some of the most vulnerable animals in our community.
I first came across Darla’s story and knew I wanted to do something to help.
Darla was just one year old, but had already endured a lifetime of cruelty. She had been deliberately bred to be unnaturally small, leaving her with severe skeletal deformities and constant pain. She was kept in a tiny cage, never knowing what it was like to play, be cuddled, have a toy or even walk freely. When she was eventually discarded on the side of the road, she was covered in bird droppings because she had literally had no way to escape her cage.
Lucky Little Paws Rescue and Adoption stepped in when Darla was struggling to walk, eat and breathe. Without their help, she would have been euthanised.
And despite everything humans had done to her, Darla was nothing but love. She wanted cuddles, kisses and affection. She was discovering for the first time what it felt like to be cared for.
The rescue was determined to give her a chance. Her infections were treated and they carefully managed her difficulties with eating and drinking. She was then taken to the vet for desexing and BOAS surgery to help with her breathing and swallowing.
Sadly, while she was under anaesthetic, vets discovered a devastating problem. A huge infection in her uterus, likely pyometra, was compounded by severe internal deformities. Her uterus, bowel and bladder were all adhered together, making surgery incredibly dangerous. There was no guarantee the organs could have been successfully separated. Even if they were, she would have been doubly incontinent if she survived the surgery.
With broken hearts, the rescue made the decision to let Darla go peacefully under anaesthetic.
I had originally approached the SA Power Networks Employee Foundation because I wanted to help raise the funds needed for Darla’s treatment and rehabilitation, estimated at around $20,000. Although we can no longer save Darla, I feel even more strongly that her story should be told and that we should support Lucky Little Paws Rescue and Adoption, who continue to take on some of the hardest and saddest cases.
Every dollar raised through this page will be dollar matched by the SA Power Networks Employee Foundation, so please give generously. ❤️”
link to Night in a Cage for Darla is below.
https://lucky-little-paws-a-night-in-a-cage-fundraiser.raiselysite.com/
Darlas original story in comments .
