Aprotest will be held tonight regarding two local councils’ decision to stop using the services of the South East Animal Welfare League (SEAWL).

The protest was called by the Mount Gambier Residents and Ratepayers Association and people will gather outside the Mount Gambier City Council offices at 5.30pm.

The SEAWL confirmed it will not submit an expression of interest for a council tender to impound and re-home animals, which followed the tripartite agreement between the league and the Mount Gambier City and Grant District councils ceasing at the start of this month.

Association spokesperson Ian said community members were ‘outraged’ by the council decision.

“The outcome the resident’s association is hoping for is that council will not go ahead with their tender process and renegotiate in good faith with SEAWL to maintain their services,” he said.

“This is a significant dog town and I think there are approximately 4000 to 5000 dogs registered, which is a very, very high percentage.

“You have only got to go down to the dog park to see the level of concern people have for their pets.”

The association has concerns about the conditions of the facility where animals are being held by council and what will happen to the dogs after the 72-hour holding period.

“We are all very careful about our animals to make sure they do not escape, but when they do we expect they will be looked after properly, this is not a mechanism to look after them properly, this is locking them in a tin shed that is not even waterproof,” Ian said.

“The council keeps giving these vague answers about ‘we hold them for 72 hours’, and that’s what the act says, that is true, but what they will not answer is what happens to them after that.

“I think that is what people are agitated about, apart from the facility, they are agitated there is no clear direction after the 72 hours.”