Q&A: Council’s new Animal Care and Impounding service

Image: [L to R] Evie and Preston are two pets in Council's care looking for a home.

Last month, we announced a new Council service that seeks to reduce the number of stray and lost dogs and cats in our community and reunite pets with their family.

Our aim is to reduce lost pets, while also prioritising the safety of the animals, our community, and the environment. Council’s new Animal Care and Impounding service is how we’ll achieve this.

It’s a bit different to the brick-and-mortar pound facility you may be used to hearing about. Below we’ve captured some of the common questions we’ve received from our community about the new service.

What do I do if my dog or cat goes missing?

Start by visiting Council’s website to check to see if your lost pet has already been listed as found. Council aims to list animals found on the website as soon as we can. If you don’t see your pet immediately, it’s a good idea to check the website a few days later, especially if your pet is not microchipped or if their details are not up to date.

You can also call Council’s Animal Care & Impounding Services team on (02) 4227 7111 and we’ll do our best to reunite you with your pet.

What do I do if I find a stray or roaming dog?

This hasn’t changed. Continue to contact Council’s Animal Compliance team on (02) 4227 7111. They're available seven days, including public holidays and weekends, between 9am-5pm.

If it’s after 5pm or on a weekend or public holiday, you may also keep the animal in your care overnight if it’s an option for you. If the animal is displaying aggressive behaviour, call Council’s After-Hours phone on (02) 4227 7111.

You can also contact your local vet and take the animal to them if they are willing to hold it until 9am the next day.

What do I do if I find a stray or roaming cat?

This hasn’t changed. It’s not illegal for cats to roam, but if a cat is making excessive noise or damaging property, you can report it to Council.

Cats are notoriously hard to catch, if you manage to catch a stray or roaming cat, contact Council’s Animal Compliance team on (02) 4227 7111. Council Officers will collect the cat as soon as we can.

What about other animals (such as rabbits, birds, reptiles, or hamsters)?

Stray/roaming dogs and cats pose the biggest safety risk to our community and environment. This is why Council focusses on returning and rehoming these animals.

For all other pets, there are a number of local, online community groups that help reunite pet owners with lost pets.

For sick, injured, or orphaned native animals, visit the WIRES website or call 1300 094 737.

How does this new service work? Is there a physical pound facility I can visit?

We’ll be working with local veterinary services and a network of regional kennelling facilities to offer our community a comprehensive animal care and impounding service.

Dogs and cats will be boarded at a number of regional kennelling facilities contracted by Council. These are located in the Wollongong region, Sydney and Nowra.

Does Council plan to roll out a more traditional pound facility in Wollongong?

In the short and medium term, we’ve decided the best solution is an integrated service option. This is what we’re now offering.

We believe this approach will best meet our community’s needs while also prioritising the safety and care of animals.

Council will continue to investigate long-term options. That includes investigating the feasibility of a pound facility located in the Wollongong LGA.

What happens to animals that are not reclaimed by their owners?

We’re now offering pet adoption through our new Animal Care and Impounding service. You can view the pets available for adoption on our website.

• Unidentified stray animals (no microchip or identification details) are held for up to 7 days before they become available for adoption.
• Identified stray animals (microchip or identification details out of date) are held for up to 25 days before they become available for adoption.

We will begin to list animals on our website for adoption in the days leading up to them becoming avaible for adoption. That way, if they’re not claimed by the standard time period, we are more likely to have a hopeful pet owner ready to give them a new home.

Will there be changes to Council’s fees and charges for reclaiming lost pets?

Impounding fees currently remain unchanged. However, adjustments may be proposed through the annual review of fees and charges. Any proposed changes will be publicly exhibited for comment before being adopted by Council.

I can’t afford to pay impounding fees and charges, what can I do?

We have a Companion Animal Pound Hardship Management Policy that provides support to residents experiencing genuine financial hardship. Under this policy consideration will be given to reducing or waiving fees for people that can demonstrate their financial distress.

What’s Council’s euthanasia policy?

We will always make every effort to return an animal to their owners or find them a new home, so long as they do not pose a safety risk. Euthanasia is a last resort and will only occur when the animal is not suitable for rehoming or for animal welfare reasons.

I want to surrender my pet. How do I do that?

It is the owner’s responsibility to find a new home for an unwanted pet. If you are unable to rehome your pet yourself, you can surrender your pet to Council.

Contact Council on (02) 4227 7111 for more information.

What about volunteer community groups who help reunite lost pets? Will they be impacted?

Here in Wollongong, we have a dedicated and supportive community who love animals and want to make sure they find their way home. We will continue to work with local, volunteer community groups to spread the word of Council’s new services and find homes for lost or abandoned pets.