Published on Tuesday, 18 June 2019 at 4:01:53 PM
The new Geraldton Animal Management Facility (AMF) located at Davies Road in Utakarra has officially opened.
Built by local contractor Crothers Construction Pty Ltd, the new $1.64 million AMF has the capacity to temporarily house up to 50 dogs and 20 cats, includes an animal livestock yard and features a separate space to quarantine animals.
The building also contains a seating area for members of the community waiting to pick up their pets or animals and an office administration area that enables Rangers to better manage animal activities.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the much needed, fit for purpose AMF has been built to accommodate the growing animal control needs in our community.
“On average, 30 animals a week are impounded of which more than 80% of the dogs and 99% of the cats collected are unregistered and quite possibly have no owner,” he said.
“Before the new facility was built these animals had to be kept at three separate, overcrowded facilities and Rangers often had to take animals to their personal properties due to lack of space.
“With almost 7000 dogs and more than 1100 cats currently registered in the City region, a number that increases annually, it is critical that we have a modern and fully RSPCA compliant facility that will be able to meet the growing demand for animal management in the years to come.”
Working together with the Geraldton Dog Rescue to rehome dogs within the City region will also be much easier with the volunteer organisation taking over management of the former dog pound located on Davies Road.
“The co-location of the Dog Rescue operations beside the new AMF means healthy, non-aggressive animals that aren’t collected or have no owner can be easily given to the Dog Rescue for rehoming in the City region,” said Mayor Van Styn.
“The City also works animal shelters across the State to ensure dogs that aren’t able to be rehomed locally find new owners.”
Geraldton Dog Rescue President Lenci Millman said the group was thrilled to finally have a fixed location for their operations.
“Having our own facility is something that we’ve been aspiring to for many years,” she said.
“We have a great record of rehoming dogs in the community and have developed a strong working relationship with City Rangers to achieve great outcomes for the dogs.
“The co-location will assist GDR enormously and we are eager to progress to the next stage of our own project.
“The AMF is a fantastic development and a much needed one.”
The former Pass Street facility will be demolished and the property marketed for future commercial development.
PICTURE CAPTION: Mayor Van Styn (center) is joined by members of the Geraldton Dog Rescue and City Rangers to officially open the new Geraldton Animal Management Facility.
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