Big Ears Animal Sanctuary’s co-founder and public officer Brett Steele said the organisation would have an increase of animal re-homing requests if the centre closed. 

“Without increased funding, Big Ears would not be in a position to take on animals in a greater capacity than we currently are,” Mr Steele said. 

He said the key difference between the RSPCA and the sanctuary was that it is run entirely by volunteers. 

“The RSPCA spent $2.5 million dollars on wages alone for the last financial year whereas there are no wages cost at Big Ears, it’s all volunteers,” he said.

“At Big Ears we currently manage approximately 500 animals on a budget of $120,000 per year total.”

Tasmania is already overrun with cats, Mr Steele said. 

“This will be made worse with the closure of the RSPCA Launceston,” he said.

“The stress placed on the volunteers at animal welfare groups will be enormous as they will have to be turning animals away, knowing that the animal may then be dumped or ill cared for.

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The loser in this situation is the animals, Mr Steele said.

A government spokesman said it provides $550,000 per annum for the RSPCA’s animal welfare inspectorate service. 

“The department has agreed to provide the $550,000 funding for 2018-19 in advance to assist the RSPCA to manage the inspectorate service cash flow,” the spokesman said.

“The RSPCA is an important organisation with a recognised and responsible brand and we will continue to work with them as they seek to build a sustainable organisation for well into the future.”

RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Dr Andrew Byrne said the government agreed to give the organisation the advancement about two months ago. 

“It will help, and it is nice of them,” Dr Byrne said. 

An opposition government spokesman said it would be willing to consult with the RSPCA.