I recently received a letter, asking for additional funds to help rebuild the Yagoona shelter in Sydney, which has been in operation for over thirty years and desperately needs overhauling and renovation. The plan for the facility includes new catteries and kennels, a new animal hospital, a humane education centre and property staff facilities, as well as creating an additional arm – the RSPCA Centre for Animal Rescue and Education Services. The Sydney chapter, however, doesn't have the money to rebuild it, as the NSW State government only provides 2% of its annual operating costs.
If the Yagoona shelter is not seen as a priority it will continue to deteriorate and will eventually be forced to close. The RSPCA needs loyal supporters to assist them in lobbying local Members of Parliament to put rebuilding of Yagoona on their agendas, and to get the government to recogise that the Shelter not only cares for thousands of animals but educates children, protects pets of domestic violence victims, looks after animals of the aged and infirm, acts as a teaching hospital for vets and vet nurses and houses Australia's largest inspectorate dedicated to enforcing government laws.
