Council News CITY OF WAGGA WAGGA
FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 28 MAY 2016
Issue 96
Weekly information from us to you Glenfield Road Animal Shelter improvements
EXPERT OPINION: Dr Jacob Michelsen looks over one of the cats at the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter on Friday.
COMPLETED ACTIONS:
• Dog beds installed • In floor heating is operational • Review and updating of website information • Review and updating of policies and procedures • Inductions of volunteers with the view for reinstatement of a strong volunteer program • CCTV installed • Completion of internal and external reviews • A reorganisation of the staffing structure for the animal shelter • The operations moved under interim management of the Directorate Environment and Community Services
PLANNED ACTIONS: Pending a formal resolution of Council at the 30 May Ordinary Meeting • Entry landscaping improvements • Drainage improvements • Security improvements • Automatic drinkers • Dog exercise area (fencing and turf) • Additional cat cages/exercise pen • Dog wash facility • Facility master plan
Shelter review complete
Veterinary specialist gives feedback on facility, policies and procedures
The City of Wagga Wagga has publicly released an external review of the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter (GRAS). Highly qualified veterinary specialist Jacob Michelsen under took the independent review, which was a key action announced by General Manager Alan Eldridge in his open letter to the community on 7 April.
Dr Michelsen’s report assessed both the physical infrastructure at the facility as well as its management, policies and procedures. “The review found many positive aspects of the shelter and while there are also many recommendations for changes and improvements, it’s important to not lose sight of the substantial improvements that have been made over the past few years,” Dr Michelsen said. “The Glenfield Road Animal
Shelter is capable of becoming a model facility showing the way forward in humane companion animal care.” The scope of the review was to not only asses GRAS against current legislation, but to compare it against best practice in animal management and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals draft guidelines and standards. “The review confirmed the shelter was compliant with current legislation, but we are committed to being a best practice facility in
line with the recommendations,” Mr Eldridge said. “These recommendations will be put into place as soon as possible and I would like to assure the community that all past issues at the shelter have been addressed. “More than $70,000 worth of improvements for the shelter will also be determined by Council at the 30 May Ordinary Meeting, including an exercise area for
animals and creating a long-term strategy for management of the facility.” Mr Eldridge thanked Dr Michelsen for the in-depth review, which was completed two weeks ahead of schedule. As part of Council’s commitment to transparency on the management of GRAS, the full report and summary document are available at Council's website.
wagga.nsw.gov.au/animals
THE MAKING OF RELIVE THE STORY OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST ICONIC ROCK BAND The Museum of the Riverina is supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW
ON EXHIBITION 27 MAY – 21 AUGUST 2016 MUSEUM OF THE RIVERINA
WAGGA.NSW.GOV.AU/MUSEUM