The City of Launceston council is expected to provide an update regarding the future of the Launceston RSPCA Animal Care Centre at Mowbray.
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How its all unfolded:
In March The Examiner revealed RSPCA Tasmania was closing its Hobart centre at Mornington in the state’s South.
It was officially closed on June 1, with services relocated to the RSPCA’s Spreyton site.
The RSPCA made agreements with welfare groups Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania and 10 Lives, who assisted with re-homing the centre’s animals.
At the time RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Dr Andrew Byrne said the closure was part of a change in direction for the organisation, including a focus back to its core purposes and inspectorate services.
On June 16 the financial struggles of Launceston’s Animal Care Centre were made public.
It was revealed the RSPCA was working with the City of Launceston council to find a solution.
At the time City of Launceston general manager Michael Stretton said temporary measures had been put in place to continue services provided by the shelter, until the end of August.
Following a strong community reaction, a petition to save the centre was started calling on the council to meet the “financial and moral obligations” to its animals and to “pay RSPCA Launceston for the work it does”.
The petition has more than 8000 signatures.
Mr Stretton previously said the Launceston centre’s closure was a regional issue and any financial burden for animal services shouldn’t be carried solely by Launceston ratepayers.
Dr Byrne said the general managers of both West Tamar and Meander Valley councils were included in initial meetings with the City of Launceston council.
West Tamar mayor Christina Holmdahl said calls asking other councils to assist with funding was a “fair comment”, describing the RSPCA’s services as “imperative” for the region.
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 Launceston centre closed.
Mr Stretton previously said stakeholder discussions were ongoing and the council expected to make a public statement soon.
The RSPCA currently has animal care centres at Mowbray and Spreyton.
A cat shelter in Burnie was closed in in 2012, with services consolidated to the Spreyton location.
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Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
