About ARRG

Caring for animals together.

 The Animal Rights and Rescue Group (ARRG) has been part of the Northern Rivers community since 1995, formed in response to the closure of the local RSPCA branch. What began as a passionate effort by Barbara Steffenson and a handful of dedicated locals has grown into a tireless, 7-days-a-week mission to care for animals in need.

At ARRG, we give unwanted, injured, and neglected animals a second chance — but we can’t do it alone. We rely on the kindness of our volunteers, foster carers, and the generosity of those who support us through donations and fundraising. Every garage sale, market stall and second-hand item sold goes directly toward helping the animals in our care.

Most of our rescues live in loving foster homes while they wait to find their forever families, with a small number housed at our Lismore Rehabilitation Centre. We’re currently working hard to raise funds to upgrade our longterm resident enclosures — for those that need a little extra TLC before being placed in a foster home, and to provide a safe haven for pets affected by homelessness, domestic violence, or sudden health crises in their families.

We are also working towards gaining funding be able to offer a low-cost desexing programme with our network of compassionate vets — an essential step in reducing the heart breaking number of animals euthanised in shelters across Australia each day.

ARRG is proud to be a no-kill organisation, which means we only take in as many animals as we can properly care for. Every life matters, and we’re committed to giving each one the love and attention they deserve.

We’re also passionate about education. We believe teaching young people about responsible pet ownership is key to creating a more compassionate future — and we’ve loved visiting schools to share that message.

One of our dreams is to establish a mobile, low-cost desexing program to support rural communities and prevent unwanted litters before they begin.

We believe that pets are not disposable — they’re family. And we’ll keep standing up for them, every day.