For the last 15 years, RSPCA Victoria has served the animals and people of the Portland community by caring for and rehoming animals in need at its Portland shelter.
Last week, RSPCA Victoria received formal notice that Glenelg Shire Council will end the contract. In the absence of an agreement, Glenelg Shire Council has advised pound and sheltering services for the area will be operated by the council from January 2022.
RSPCA Victoria CEO, Dr Liz Walker said she was saddened by the outcome. “RSPCA Victoria is proud to have served the local community during the past 15 years by providing high quality care to animals in need, reuniting lost pets and helping thousands of animals find loving new homes,” Dr Walker said.
“I want to thank our employees and volunteers at RSPCA Portland for their dedication over the years – they have certainly made a real difference to animal welfare and should feel proud of their work. I also want to thank the local community for supporting us and let people know that our op shop will continue to operate with the help of the amazing team of local volunteers.”
RSPCA Victoria is a not-for-profit charity that relies on community donations to support its work caring for more than 20,000 vulnerable animals across the state annually. In recent years the charity has adopted a cost neutral strategy and will no longer subsidise the costs of operating local councils’ pounds and shelters. Charging the actual costs of running shelters will help ensure RSPCA Victoria remains financially sustainable and is in a position to prioritise funding to areas of greatest animal welfare need.
During the past 15 years the animal welfare charity subsidised the cost of running the shelter in order to provide high-quality animal care in agreement with Glenelg Shire Council.
In June 2020 RSPCA Victoria submitted a tender to continue to run the Portland shelter on a cost-neutral basis. To achieve cost neutrality, RSPCA Victoria proposed charging an additional fee of $3,900 per month in the first year of the arrangement, purely to meet the needs of running the shelter and importantly, not to deliver a profit.
RSPCA Victoria has been in discussions with Glenelg Shire Council for more than a year to form a mutually agreeable solution but regrettably has been unable to reach an agreement.
“RSPCA Victoria will continue to work with the council to support the employees and volunteers during the transition and to ensure the animals of Glenelg continue to be provided with high standards of care, and find safe and loving homes,” said Dr Walker.
