There were almost as many dogs as dignitaries to mark the sod- turning start to building a mega-pound in Epping last Thursday.
When finished next year, the $11 million pound will provide shelter for runaway and stray dogs and cats in Whittlesea, Moreland and Darebin. It’s capacity will be more than 6000 animals.
Whittlesea mayor Steven Kozmevski said the councils had joined forces to ensure lost and surrendered animals had a safe place to be sheltered.
The pound will include a livestock compound, an exercise area and an on-site vet for desexing.
“Pets play a significant part in the lives of many families and people, and it’s important that owners have an animal shelter they can access conveniently if the need arises,” Cr Kozmevski said.
The Cooper Street project, which plans reveal will look more like a futuristic gallery rather than a pound, will cater for the holding, accommodation and treatment of domestic animals and livestock.
Whittlesea has a smaller animal shelter, managed by the RSPCA, in O’Herns Road, Epping, where animals can stay for eight days before being relocated to the RSPCA’s Burwood facility.
“This collaborative project will allow a larger and improved facility to be developed in Epping with more services and capacity to cater for a larger number of animals,” Cr Kozmevski said.
Whittlesea will own the shelter, contributing 60 per cent of the costs and overseeing its design and construction.
Moreland and Darebin councils will contribute 21.4 per cent and 18.6 per cent respectively.
The shared arrangement between the three councils will continue until 2027 when Moreland and Darebin will have an option to renew the arrangement.
The new shelter will begin taking in runaways from the middle of next year.
