Council posted the call for volunteers to Facebook on Thursday.

The RSPCA was in charge for 40 years, but council decided in April to end the group’s contract, ahead of its plans to build a larger shelter.

There were 12 employees and 20 volunteers at the time.

Council will build a new animal shelter to house twice the number of animals as the current, including 200 cats and 150 dogs.

Opening hours will also be extended as part of the change in management.

There were reports in 2014 that the shelter was at capacity during the Christmas holidays.

Infrastructure and environment director Terry Demeo said council was currently working through the recruitment process to engage staff for the animal shelter.

“The City of Ballarat has advertised for an animal shelter supervisor, along with several animal attendant positions.”

Mr Demeo said in April council hoped to retain the current staff at the shelter.

“We are very happy with how the RSPCA has run the facility,” he said.

Council’s job post said volunteers needed to have a positive attitude, flexibility, and an ability to work effectively in a team.

Cr Mark Harris said there were increasing responsibilities associated with the shelter.

“It has been something we have been keen to take on in house ourselves,” he said.

“It is probably a place to increase care over the levels we required of the RSPCA.

“Community expectations are increasing and it is something we want to take on board at council. The standard of care can only increase.”

Cr Harris said the RSPCA had been a great manager for the shelter, but the change would also help make work for the volunteers there more diverse.

“In the old system they got left doing the range of things that perhaps they would not have liked to have done,” he said.