A much-loved animal rescue shelter is urging the NSW government to support its service to the four-legged friends of Sydney.
Sydney Dogs and Cats Home at Carlton has launched a petition in the hope it will help with the acquisition of a site to build a new community facility.
The shelter is Sydney’s only charity pound, with more than 3000 animals walking through the doors each year.
But its land is slated for re-development.
General manager, Claire Garth, said the shelter was unique because it did not put in place deadlines on finding animals a home.
“For 70 years, we’ve offered a safe haven for lost and abandoned animals,” she said.
“We are the only facility of our kind in Sydney that places no time limits on animals in our care.
“We have been giving lost, abandoned and mistreated animals a second chance at life.”
Ms Garth said staff were faced with an uncertain future.
“The lease at our current site has now expired, so it is fair to say we’re living with the prospect of being given one month’s notice to vacate,” she said.
She said a new site would enable the shelter’s existing community programs to expand.
“Demand for our services is only increasing, both through anticipated council amalgamations and the closure of other facilities,” she said.
“The results of our programs that link animals with the elderly, those living with disability, injured soldiers, and youth living with mental illness, are amazing.
“We have an overwhelming amount of support for the work we do, and we are adamant that our vital work needs to continue.”
The shelter has already raised almost $1 million of a target of $3 million for a new shelter.
