Despite the controversial issues raised with Animal Aid in July, the Yarra Ranges Council passed a motion to sign another three-year contract with the Coldstream-based animal welfare organisation for animal pound service.
To fulfil its obligations under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, the council must have the capacity to seize and impound nuisance domestic animals, in particular dogs and cats, and it may engage a third party to fulfil that function.
At the council meeting on 26 August, Cr Len Cox said this is a contract to renew the animal pound for the next three years.
“People lose their dogs. They go astray. There’s all sorts of reasons why a dog could be one, or a cat could be wandering loose around the streets, and we can’t have that,” he said.
“And this is for when they get picked up by one of our rangers, they’ve got to find somewhere to put them, and that’s the animal pound.”
The previous ten-year contract between Animal Aid and Yarra Ranges Council for the same service has now concluded.
Through the tender process for the next contract, only one submission by the previous contractor was received.
“This tender will offer the pound service for a value of $3,126,678.50 inclusive of GST. And that comes out to around $625,000 per year,” Cr Mitch Mazzarella said.
“I do note that that is an increase of about $350,000 per year, which seems a little high, but then again, we only got one applicant for the tender, so I look forward to seeing Animal Aid continue its record of delivering in our community.”
Along with the animal pound tender motion, councillors also discussed setting a schedule of fees and charges, including pound release for dogs and cats.
Release fee up to 48 hours for registered cats and dogs is $133, for unregistered is $199, release fee between three and five days for registered is $199, for unregistered is $288, release fee between six and eight days for registered is $262, for unregistered is $355, and release fee over eight days for both registered and unregistered is $40 per day.
Seized animal fee per day is $40 for both registered and unregistered cats and dogs.
Microchipping fee is $63 for both registered and unregistered cats and dogs.
Vet fees are charged as incurred.
