When the region’s only animal shelter spends a month reducing the price of cats and dogs because of overcrowding, as it was forced to in May, you know there is a problem.

That’s why the City of Ballarat has made a new animal shelter at the Ballarat West Employment Zone one of its top priorities.

But to do this, it needs a $13 million cash injection to create a state-of-the-art regional animal facility to service Ballarat, Golden Plains, Pyrenees, Ararat, Hepburn, Central Goldfields and Moorabool.

Executive Manager Regulatory Services Amy Boyd said  construction of the facility will represent the single biggest improvements to animals welfare services in the region in a century.

“What we are discovering is that the Ballarat community and the broader community are really supportive of us and the work we are doing,” she said.

“We put a call out for blankets just a couple of weeks ago and the traction on that was phenomenal. We now have a back room which is floor to ceiling in blankets.”

The City of Ballarat took over running of the shelter from the RSPCA in September last year.

“When we took over the facility, we based our assumptions around the data we’d been given from the RSPCA,” Ms Boyd said. 

“We’ve now had nearly 12 months operation and our figures are far exceeding that of the past.

“The reality is we are taking in around about 3000 animals per annum.”

“What it tells us is the community is behind us, people are now looking to the shelter when they find a lost pet and not going down the social media path.”

The Ballarat Animal Shelter is believed to be the largest run facility of its type in Victoria and can cater for 70 dogs and 120 cats.

“We estimate there are around 60,000 cats and dogs in the City of Ballarat alone and when you consider Ballarat’s growth, that’s a lot more animals coming into the region over the next five to 10 years,” Ms Boyd said.

“That demand is only going to grow.”

The City says it sees the facility as a shared regional service and is in discussions about how other council areas would benefit.

A greenfields site has been secured on Blind Creek Road at the Ballarat West Employment Zone with its location in an industrial area meaning it would have a minimal amenity impact to adjoining landowners.

The current animal shelter site is a former abattoir building converted in the 1990s with limited retrofitting or rebuilding works being undertaken.

It’s facilities are inadequate to cater for current or future needs.

“The biggest thing is examples like Fancy – who was surrendered as a pup - she was a pedigree dog who was purchased for more than $2000 and her owner couldn’t look after her anymore,” Ms Boyd said.

“Traditionally, that owner might have sold her on Gumtree, but instead, they have put their trust in us to find her a home.

“We also had a recent example of the RSPCA and the Hepburn Shire did a raid on a puppy farm in Creswick and in that 27 of those dogs were surrendered to us here. 

“That puts enormous pressure on our facility. We don’t have facilities for animals who have never been socialised, that haven’t lived outside their groups, that have health concerns. 

“For us that is quite the challenge. We’ve so far got six of those up for adoption.”

Ms Boyd said a new home would cater for more animals and allow for more staff.

“We are planning for up to 150 dogs,” she said. 

“The break up includes dedicated aggressive dog holdings. They require specialty pens and we don’t have that capability.

“You’d have dedicated quarantine areas for the dogs like the ones who came from Creswick. You’d have space for 250 cats. We would also love to have a 24-hour dedicated vet service on site. They come in just three times a week, an onsite vet and surgery would be an enormous help.

“We’d love to be able do some social enterprise on site, such as a small cafe or retail in order to build that relationship with the community.”

Ms Boyd said other groups would also benefit.

“We have school groups coming in every week, we have disability services coming in with clients who are spending time with animals,” she said. 

“We’d love to be able to set up work with TAFE’s and universities in training rooms in animal science and vet care. 

“It’s a big vision, but it’s a big business. One in three households has a cat and a dog.”

The Election Selection showcases The Courier’s picks for what Ballarat projects need a funding promise in the lead-up to the November State Election.

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