A new animal shelter is a critical next step

Last year, almost 14,000 dogs, and 8000 cats were registered with the City of Ballarat.

That equates to about one in six households having a four-legged friend in or around the home.

With a residential population of 113,000 people and growing, the number of pets in Ballarat is only going to expand too.

These figures highlight the importance of responsible pet ownership and looking after our animals' wellbeing.

They also show why there is strong demand for the critical animal welfare services the City of Ballarat provides to our city and Central Highlands region shires.

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That's why the City of Ballarat is advocating to the Victorian government for funding to deliver a purpose-built, regional animal shelter on a council-owned site at Mitchell Park.

The Ballarat Regional Animal Facility would meet the requirements of not only Ballarat but also the neighbouring shires of Hepburn, Golden Plains, Pyrenees and Central Goldfields and is likely to extend to other municipalities.

Not many of us have cause to visit the present Ballarat Animal Shelter often, so it can be all too easy to overlook the essential service it provides in our community.

Every day of the year, our staff and volunteers at the Gillies Street shelter do a great job caring for vulnerable animals from across our region.

In the year to June, a total of 997 dogs and 1160 cats - along with birds, chickens and other animals - were given care by our dedicated team.

Most of us would be familiar with the shelter's core function of caring for lost or abandoned animals, either picked up by council animal officers or handed in by the public.

You might also be aware it's a holding facility for seized animals where court cases are pending.

Perhaps less well-known is the vital service the animal shelter provides for people and pets in emergencies, such as bushfires and other equally challenging circumstances.

In the 2019 Bunkers Hill fire, our team responded to 16 calls for assistance, while in the past 12 months, the shelter took in 20 pets - 12 dogs, one puppy and seven cats - that belonged to people escaping situations of family violence.

All of this requires the highest level of expertise and care.

Our staff receive specialist training in aggressive dog handling techniques, animal behaviour and assessment, which means they are equipped to handle a range of animals that others cannot.

The dedication and skill of those staff and volunteers was recognised recently when the shelter received an award for Outstanding Council Animal Shelter in the Pet Insurance Australia Companion Animal Rescue Awards 2021.

As impressive as that is, the fact is they need a facility the equal of those exceptional standards.

The City of Ballarat has committed $200,000 to progress plans for a new, fully compliant regional animal facility to shovel-ready stage.

Victorian government funding to construct a new regional animal shelter would enable the single biggest improvement to animal welfare services in this region in a century.

Right now, we're encouraging all local residents who value this important service to show their support for a regional animal facility by taking a short survey at the City of Ballarat's mySay site - mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au/

By completing this survey, you can help us build the case to the state government that this project is urgently needed in our city and region.

A new Ballarat regional animal facility will enhance the quality of life and standard of care delivered to the thousands of stray, lost, abandoned, or abused animals from around the region that pass through the City of Ballarat's animal shelter each year.

For a city that likes animals as much as Ballarat does, that counts for a lot.