RSPCA on lookout for adoption centre
PROCESSING ANIMALS SHOULD BE A COUNCIL RESPONSIBILITY
RSPCA Queensland is searching for a new location to build an adoption centre in Townsville following an agreement which will see the animal welfare group no longer run the pound.
The Townsville Bulletin reported on Saturday that in three weeks the RSPCA would withdraw from providing animal management services in Townsville.
It will continue to investigate animal cruelty cases in the region but the council will take over operating the pound.
RSPCA had earlier asked for an investment from council to upgrade facilities and cover losses incurred through service delivery in recent years.
The RSPCA did not submit a tender to operate the pound for the council.
RSPCA Queensland chief executive officer Mark Townend said the agreement was like a “divorce” and characterised it as “acceptable”.
He said the RSPCA “shouldn’t be in the pound business” and wanted to focus on animal cruelty and investigation issues.
“Processing animals should be a council responsibility,” he said.
Mr Townend said the RSPCA was looking for a new location to build an adoption centre in Townsville, but could not give a date when that would happen.
Mayor Jenny Hill said she was confident the council would be able to work with local animal welfare providers to provide a “comparable” service to the RSPCA.
Cr Hill said animal welfare services in Townsville encompassed the pound, rehoming and the cruelty inspectorate, the last of which the RSPCA would remain involved with. Nearly all of Queensland’s local governments run their own pounds.
Meanwhile a “peaceful protest” is planned outside the Townsville City Council Walker St building on Thursday.
Annandale resident Emma Gregory, 29, is organising the protest and said she wanted to put pressure on both the RSPCA and the council to reconsider the arrangement.
Formerly an RSPCA volunteer, she has seen firsthand the hard work from staff at the RSPCA Adoption Centre Townsville at Shaw.
She said some members of the community were shocked the RSPCA would no longer operate the pound.
MARK TOWNEND
“The RSPCA is ingrained in the Townsville community,” she said.
“So many people have their pets from the RSPCA and they understand the amount of work and effort that’s gone into it.”
Ms Gregory will today apply to police, council and the courts for a permit to allow 500 people to gather on Walker St on Thursday between 7.30am and 10.30am.
Ms Gregory said more than 200 people are planning to attend and a further 1000 had shown interest.
She said she didn’t think the council was the “bad guy”.
“I really hope there is a good outcome,” she said.
A petition called “Give RSPCA Townsville the land” by Adrienne Isnard has been signed by more than 4600 people.