Mareeba refuge needs rehoming
THE Mareeba Animal Refuge is facing closure and its operators are pleading for Far Northerners to help build a new facility so it can continue finding new homes for pets.
Mareeba Animal Refuge lessee and manager Jennifer Walsh wants to stay and continue to rehome animals.
But the refuge, at 35 Hickling Ave, doesn’t meet building codes and the lease expires on December 19.
Ms Walsh has no idea what will happen to pets surrendered after then.
“This building violates a lot of codes. We just can’t keep operating here,” Ms Walsh said.
“We are the only refuge on the Tablelands. We take animals from Cairns, Cooktown, Innisfail and right across the region.
“What is going to happen to those animals? With no refuge, there will be no rehoming facility and all these beautiful animals may meet an uncertain fate.”
The refuge rehomes about 200 dogs and 120 cats a year.
Mareeba Shire Council recently put out an expression of interest (EOI) to build, own and run a cat and dog boarding facility and/or refuge facility with a council pound.
“We obviously don’t have the money to build a facility,” Ms Walsh said.
“But because all the approvals are in place for an animalrelated facility someone is going to put their hand up and say yes, they want to build a boarding facility.
“If that happens we are absolutely done for because we won’t be able to do boarding, which is one of our major incomes. Once a new boarding facility is in place, there won’t be a refuge.
“If we can somehow manage to rally part of the cost to build a new refuge, then maybe council might put in the rest.
“We hope the community will come around us and help somehow. It will cost about $800,000 to build a new facility.”
A council spokesman said the existing facility had come to the end of its useful life.
“While ongoing repairs had been made to keep the facility open, it has reached the point where significant work needs to be done,” he said.
“Council is aware this is the only refuge on the Tablelands but it simply does not have the funds to construct a new one.
“To try and find a solution, council has called for EOIs from anyone who may wish to establish an animal facility on this site. The EOI closes at 11am on Thursday, March 14.