Hammocks for happiness 💕

Recently, participants at our Wacol site at the RSPCA Qld Brisbane Animal Care Campus, have been creating special hammocks to enrich the rats’ enclosures. 🐀 

These handmade hammocks are crafted from upcycled fabrics donated to the shelter. Participants carefully cut squares and braid strips of material together to create durable hangs, carefully tied into each corner of the square. Participants have also enjoyed discussing why braided ropes are stronger than a simple strip of fabric. This technique allows rats to climb safely while providing secure grips for their paws. Suspended from the roof of their enclosure in the shelter, the hammocks are providing the rats with a cozy, elevated space to rest, supporting both comfort and enrichment. 

Animal enrichment is a key component of our sessions and is essential for keeping animals healthy, mentally stimulated, and confident, even for small pets like rats. 

For participants, this tactile activity is about more than crafting—it’s hands-on care, creativity, and seeing the immediate impact of their effort on the animals’ lives.