RSPCA Tasmania hopes to have a vet clinic open and operating in the North of the state as early as next financial year.
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It is part of an attempt by the organisation to improve its income generation and financial stability.
Chief executive Peter West said the vet clinic that was already operating in Hobart was hugely successful.
“It’s a great model,” he said. “People bring their pets along to be seen by the vets at the RSPCA.
“It’s a not-for-profit vet so all the funds that come into the vet clinic go back into the RSPCA to help look after those animals in most need.
“People want to help the RSPCA, they want to help their animals, and we have really good vets. There’s a whole range of things we’re doing slightly differently now than before and that is the social enterprise side of what we need to do, which will help us become sustainable.”
It costs at least $3.5 million a year to run the RSPCA in Tasmania, Mr West said.
The vet service in Hobart has increased over the years, with the clinic now open 9am to 5pm, five days a week. The RSPCA also has a grant for a new x-ray machine in the South and for one in the North.
“So we’ll have one up and ready to go by next financial year in Launceston, and that’s when I’m pushing to have a fully functioning RSPCA vet clinic in the North of the state as well.
“We need to walk before we can run, but we need the income generated from the vet clinics. If we don’t do it, we will not be here.
“We can’t rely on bequests saving us year-in-year-out. So now more than ever, things like cupcake day are so important.”
The organisation already offers some private vet services in Launceston, but Mr West said that was primarily with animals that were previously in the RSPCA’s care.
“We need to create new income streams to provide the income to keep the RSPCA going, so that’s why when we say we need people to support the organisation, we actually really need it.
“If we don’t change the way the RSPCA does things, there won’t be an RPSCA and that’s just a fact.”
Mr West said the organisation was working with City of Launceston to try and get a vet clinic up and running in the area.
“So then, those animals that the inspectors bring into us that are really sick, we can look after them in our centres without having to take them to external vets.”
Cupcake Day is on Monday, but the registration will remain open for the whole month of August. The organisation aims to raise $40,000 from this year’s Cupcake Day.
All funds raised in Tasmania will stay in the state, supporting the inspectorate team and animal care shelters.
