Looking after our neglected or missing pets

Dogs at the animal shelter

Council’s Animal Shelter is located at Montague Street, North Wollongong and is run by Council’s Ranger Services Section.

Many people regard their animals as family members and when they lose their animals, owners often become very distressed. The animal shelter plays an important role in reuniting owners with their animals. Animals are generally impounded because they’ve strayed into someone’s property or have been found wandering the streets by either a ranger or a member of the public.

The law requires that if you do find a dog or cat you must either return it to the owner, or if that person can’t be identified, you must take it to the local pound.  A fine exists for not complying with this law. For more information, vist the animals penalties page.

The NSW Companion Animals Register keeps listings of current owners and these ownership details can only be changed by Council with the written authority of the current owner. So if you know someone who has found an animal and kept it, please explain to them the importance of doing the right thing to avoid a fine and ensure the original owner can be reunited with their animal.

Opening Hours:

• Monday to Friday: 7.30am - 3:30pm
• Weekends and Public Holidays: 10am - 12 noon
• Christmas Day: Closed

All animals unclaimed by their owners must stay in the shelter for a designated period with the date available for sale then listed. Any stock that is not claimed by its owners will be sold by Public Auction, please check local newspapers for dates.Council's impounding service may collect and hold stray animals.

Animals are held for the following statutory periods before being sold or euthanased:

• Microchipped and registered or owner identified dogs: 14 days
• Unmicrochipped dogs: 7 days
• Stock animals: 7 days then held at the discretion of the Animal Shelter

Animal Shelter Fees:

Release fees for owner of a dog or cat:

• First day of seizure: $36.20, and $24.90 per day or part thereof if the dog/cat remains at the shelter.
• All impounded animals must be microchipped and registered at point of release or sale. The fees are as follows:
• Microchip fee: $40

Lifetime Registration fees:

• Undesexed animal: $150
• Desexed animal (certification must be provided): $40
• Undesexed cat or dog, owned by a registered breeder: $40
• Desexed cat or dog owned by a pensinor (certification must be provided): $15

Stock Release fees:

• Labour/Transporting of Animal: $34.15
• Plant/Equipment: $30.50
• Sustenance per day or part thereof (food & water): $25.40
• Administration charge: $41.20