More than 100 kittens have been surrendered to animal shelter Just Cats in the past five days.
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However despite the demand on services, owner Rachel Beech said the organisation was up for the challenge.
The Longford-based shelter will officially take over cat management for the state’s North from January 1.
It comes as RSPCA Tasmania prepares to move on from the Animal Care Centre facility at Mowbray, with its current contract with the City of Launceston council due to expire on December 31.
Just Cats founder Rachel Beech said the organisation was grateful for the opportunity.
“All of us at Just Cats are very excited about taking on the facility out at Mowbray,” she said.
“For us it’s really an extension to what Just Cats already does here in the North.
“This is a big job and while we are optimistic, we are going to need the support of the community.”
Just Cats will offer cat adoptions from Longford, while operating a satellite facility for surrenders from Mowbray.
Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania will continue the City of Launceston council’s dog pound and regional dog shelter services from January 30, with the council to assume responsibility of services for a six week period over Christmas.
Despite the RSPCA’s unsuccessful tender bid to retain its services, chief executive Andrew Byrne said the organisation was not leaving Tasmania.
“We are working to identify a conveniently located central care facility where we will be able to consolidate our services, including our shelter, veterinary and animal welfare services, to provide optimal attention and focus for the animals in our care,” he said.
With two full-time and about 10 part time staff currently employed by the RSPCA at the Mowbray site, Mr Byrne said not all positions would be retained.
“We will take a few with us, but others have been offered redundancies,” he said.
“Sadly some will be lost, although I understand there might be some offers on the table from both Dogs’ Homes Tasmania and Just Cats.”
Ms Beech said Just Cats was considering its options.
“We are certainly looking at taking on a number of staff members at the moment and obviously hoping to obtain some of those volunteers that are available there at the RSPCA at the moment,” she said.
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