The new State Centre for Companion Animal Welfare will be the most visionary, multi-purpose animal welfare facility in Australia with the capacity to care for 50,000 shelter, boarding and emergency ‘evac’ pets every year.
The Impact
When completed, the new facilities will triple Animal Aid’s capacity, making it the nation’s single largest companion animal welfare shelter, boarding, veterinary and education facility.
The planned multi-million redevelopment of Animal Aid’s 10 acre site at Coldstream in the Yarra Valley represents one of the most significant and transformational investments in companion animal welfare in Australia. This cost-effective, multi-stage redevelopment of facilities and environmental wetlands will greatly enhance Victoria’s capacity to:
- rescue and rehabilitate abused, neglected and surrendered animals
- reduce euthanasia rates
- increase adoption rates
- provide a high capacity resource for pets in times of natural disaster
Key Features
This State Centre for Companion Animal Welfare facility will feature:
- a state-of-the-art animal shelter;
- increased daily capacity from 317 to 778;
- 231 shelter kennels and 358 place shelter cattery;
- 105 boarding kennels and 84 place cattery;
- a 161 space veterinary clinic capable of providing 24-hour 7 day a week emergency care;
- a multi-purpose training and education centre for the delivery of animal welfare professional development and public education programs;
- animal grooming facilities;
- a public café; and
- Victoria’s newest wetlands which will create a sustainable water system for the facility and an area for environmental studies.
Across Victoria, pets and people will benefit from the development of new programs and the expansion of
current programs and services, such as:
- Animal Rehabilitation Training – ART
- Meet Your Match animal adoptions and rehoming
- Pet care and support for families impacted by domestic violence
- Pet interaction for all ages with disabilities or special needs
- Youth-at-risk programs
- Prisoner and offender outreach programs
- Outreach to aged care facilities
- In-situ research and tertiary placement opportunities
Training for emergency service responders and those involved in the animal care and welfare industries.