Mount Gambier City Council elected members will be asked to consider a proposal that council continue its own pound.

The proposal follows the outcome of the expressions of interest (EOI) process council undertook in regards to its animal pound and re-homing services, after a tripartite agreement between City Council, Grant District Council and the South East Animal Welfare League lapsed several weeks ago.

The EOI process opened on June 1 with an initial closing date of July 7, however a decision was made to extend the closure date by a week to July 13.

During that time council had received one EOI and had also invited the South East Animal Welfare League (SEAWL) to participate in the process.

Elected members will have the opportunity to discuss the matter at its August monthly meeting being held today.

In a report written by council’s project manager Tegan McPherson, arrangements were made for council to operate its own pound in accordance with obligations under the Dog and Cat Management Act.

After the SEAWL declined to extend the previous tri-party funding agreement with City Council and Grant District Council, an interim arrangement for animal pound and re-homing services was implemented.

The animal welfare league also chose not to submit an EOI.

“The SEAWL has indicated they will not enter into an agreement to assist the councils with re-homing dogs,” Ms McPherson said.

“The current approach involves council operating its own pound for the mandatory 72-hour holding period”.

Ms McPherson reported, as at the end of July, 32 dogs have been found wandering at large.

“Of those, 31 were returned to their families without having to be impounded, one dog had to be impounded and was subsequently re-homed. No dogs have been euthanised,” she said.

According to its data, City Council has a high reclaim rate for dogs.

“90% (are) being reclaimed by their owners within 72 hours and of those, 85% are returned to their owner within 12 hours,” Ms McPherson said.

According to Ms McPherson, this success can be attributed to the high rates of microchipping and registration of dogs, as well as the work undertaken by council’s general inspectors to reunite dogs with their owners.

At the close of the EOI, one submission was received.

“The submission was reviewed by a panel of representatives which included three council officers from Grant and three council officers from City of Mount Gambier,” Ms McPherson said.

“The Evaluation Team has undertaken this evaluation in accordance with the planned procurement strategy.

“The evaluation process was completed at an Evaluation Team meeting held on August 1.

“Unfortunately, the EOI was not sufficient to meet the requirements of the services requested.

“As a result, the panel proposed not to progress any further with the process.

“With this in mind, we propose that council continue to operate its own pound and partner with appropriate organisations for the purpose of assessment and re-homing.

“If a dog is not reclaimed within the 72-hour timeframe, the animals are then transferred to either a volunteer-run animal rescue organisation or a local council that has an established re-homing program.”

Ms McPherson reported this approach has proven to be highly effective in facilitating the safe return of dogs to their owners and finding new loving homes for those not reunited.

As a result, council officers are currently investigating additional modifications to its holding kennel facility.

“Further scoping and planning are required, but these works are currently estimated at approximately $25,000,” Ms McPherson said.

“Council’s existing pound facility was approved for the short-term (12 hour) impoundment of dogs until they were transferred to SEAWL.

“Some minor modifications were required to make them suitable for impounding dogs for the legislated holding period of 72 hours and beyond.

“Council received approval by the Dog and Cat Management Board, in accordance with the Act, to hold up to four dogs at any one time for 72 hours and beyond.”

The council is currently finalising agreements for re-homing services post the 72-hour mandatory holding period.

The current list of options includes volunteer-run animal rescue organisations that utilise foster carers to care for the animals until they are ready for adoption, as well as other local councils that have established re-homing programs.

Ms McPherson said a confirmed agreement is already in place with Wet Noses Animal Rescue.

Meanwhile, council has come under fire from SEAWL president Trevor Twilley, who posted a statement online after reading the agenda for tonight’s council meeting.

“Having just read the minutes for next week’s Mount Gambier City Council meeting I want to reassure the community that it is Mount Gambier City Council that have questions to answer rather than portraying themselves as being angels and portraying SEAWL at fault – far from it,” Mr Twilley said.

“The statement that on April 20, 2023 Council Officers met with SEAWL is false – a Mount Gambier City General Inspector spoke with one of SEAWL’s Shelter Managers – there was no communication with the SEAWL Board.

“After SEAWL declined to extend the previous agreement – I hand delivered a letter to both Mount Gambier City and DC Grant Councils on May 5, 2022 to enter into a new agreement and seven months later, Mount Gambier City Council advised me that council will NOT enter into a new agreement and as such not provide any funding.

“A confirmed agreement is already in place with Wet Noses Animal Rescue. Does Wet Noses have any policies, procedures, Health Safety Welfare policies in place. Also SEAWL is audited and inspected to achieve accreditation from the Dog and Cat Management Board – is council inspecting all Wet Noses foster carers premises to ensure suitability?

“Does Wet Noses undertake assessments as SEAWL does to ensure suitability for re-homing. Does Wet Noses provide in house training/education/responsible ownership which SEAWL does.”

Mr Twilley also said SEAWL had indicated that it will no longer accept animals from City of Mount Gambier and has confirmed this by not submitting an EOI or wishing to enter into a new re-homing agreement.

“SEAWL applied to enter into a new agreement on May 5, 2022 which you declined to accept so City Council stop portraying SEAWL being at fault and yourself as the victim,” he said.

“SEAWL’s major concern is the welfare of not only the animals that come into SEAWL’s care but more so that of the animals that are in councils’ care.

“I also note there is little about cats coming into council care where in Mount Gambier City Council’s Confidential Agenda of January 24, 2023, Mount Gambier City Council has projected up to 680 cats/kittens a year.

“Mount Gambier City Council needs to get their act into gear and be open, honest and transparent.

“To everyone who supports SEAWL, a huge thank you as without your support SEAWL would not be able to remain open and provide the vital service we do to the community and the animals in our care.”