Media Releases

Shelley Hancock – Minister for Local Government

Monday, 4 May 2020

Council-run pounds will benefit from half a million dollars in funding to help cover veterinary, staff and food costs as well as minor capital works during the COVID-19 crisis.

Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said the Council Pound Grant Program (CPGP) will ensure councils and their service providers continue to operate as they adjust to new procedures introduced to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Councils are facing unprecedented pressure as a result of COVID-19 and this grant program will ensure they have additional funding to cover staff costs, as well as food for the animals they house,” Mrs Hancock said.

“Funds can also be used to undertake capital works including minor site upgrades, maintenance works or the purchasing of new equipment to ensure that pounds remain viable and functional.

“Funding will be available to all council run pounds across the State, to ensure they run as close to normal as possible and the welfare of animals in their care is maintained.”

A minimum of $4000 will be paid to councils under the program, up to a maximum of $28,000, depending on the number of local government areas the pound supports.

This funding builds on the recently announced $395 million local government economic stimulus package to safeguard council jobs, and local services and infrastructure in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the $82 million to support council-run childcare facilities and $25 million to upgrade local showgrounds.

Mrs Hancock said the ‘Stay Home’ isolation measures introduced to stop the spread of COVID-19 means now is the perfect time to adopt a pet from a pound or approved rehoming organisation.

“I encourage anyone thinking about welcoming a pet into their home on a forever basis to visit a NSW council pound or one of the many approved rehoming organisations across the State and rescue an animal in desperate need of a home,” Mrs Hancock said.

The NSW Government introduced half-price pet registration fees for animals adopted from pounds and shelters in 2016 to encourage would-be pet owners to consider adopting homeless pets.

Pet owners are reminded that lifetime registration, de-sexing and microchipping cats or dogs, creating a profile in the NSW Pet Registry, and keeping details updated are the best ways of ensuring pets and owners can be reunited, should they go missing.

MEDIA: Nicholas Story | 0438 255 020