Image: Animals adopted under Sydney Dogs & Cats Home
A new rehoming centre for lost and vulnerable pets is set to be constructed, providing crucial support for the long-standing Sydney Dogs & Cats Home.
Following an election promise to revitalise the facility and enhance care for these animals, the Minns Labor government committed $12 million to the project.
The Sydney Dogs & Cats Home is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the welfare of lost and vulnerable animals. For nearly 80 years, the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home (SDCH) has provided shelter and veterinary care for lost and abandoned pets, successfully rehoming 200,000 animals into forever homes since its inception.
The new centre will be instrumental in providing a brighter future for countless pets awaiting adoption.
Sydney Dogs & Cats Relocation Challenges
Last year, the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home was evicted from its site in Carlton due to redevelopment and has since been operating from a temporary location. Although the former NSW Liberal Government granted the organisation a peppercorn lease for a new site, it failed to provide funding for a new shelter, putting the future of the facility at risk.
The $12 million investment in the new facility, located on Crown land, will more than double the organisation’s current capacity and address the growing number of pets being surrendered or abandoned, often due to cost-of-living pressures.
This significant increase in space and resources is hoped to address the rising number of pets in need and to support the countless animals awaiting loving homes.
The rehoming organisation provides contracted pound services for several Sydney councils including Inner West, Randwick, Bayside, Georges River, North Sydney, and Waverley.
NSW Public Works is managing the construction of the facility, with an expected completion date of mid-2025.
The $12 million in government funding will support the first stage of the facility, with plans for a second stage to be developed by the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home in the future.
Success in Rehoming and Community Support at the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home
Between July 2023 to June 2024 alone, the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home saw 779 pets rehomed, and 242 pets reunited. The organisation is volunteer-focused, with dedicated individuals contributing over 5,000 hours of service in just one year. They provide shelter, food, vet care, and “lots of love and cuddles” to lost, homeless and abandoned animals.
The SDCH describes their objectives as caring for pets until they can either be “reunited with their owners” or able to find a “new, suitable home.” The SDCH is committed to the “Getting to Zero Movement,” aiming to rehome every healthy and treatable animal that enters its facility. Also, the organisation proudly maintains a policy of never placing a time limit on any re-homable animal awaiting adoption.
Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig emphasised the need for immediate action to ensure the survival of the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home.
“When we heard that this Sydney institution was at risk of closure, we knew it had to be saved. Hundreds of thousands of animals have been rehomed thanks to the incredible work of the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home and we’re proud to now be providing them with a new home too,” Minister Hoenig said.
“We know rehoming organisations are under pressure right now and this significant investment will provide much-needed assistance so that more pets can find their forever homes.
Minister Hoenig expressed that the new facility would significantly benefit the thousands of animals and the councils that depend on the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home to provide animal sheltering needs.
The Sydney Dogs & Cats Home is situated at 442-446 Liverpool Rd in Strathfield South. They can be contacted at 02 9587 9611 during the following hours: Mondays – Sundays: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM.
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