For the past 12 months at just about every council meeting Ted Rowell has urged Campbelltown Council to take action to improve the conditions at its animal shelter.
At last night’s meeting Cr Rowell asked council to add three exercise pens at the Rose Street Animal Care Facility.
He also requested extending the opening hours of the facility to increase access by the community.
“The animals there need the extra pens for their mental wellbeing,’’ Cr Rowell told the council.
“The pens would alleviate the stress on the animals which are not able to exercise at present.’’
He said the proposed upgrade would help bring it up to the standards specified in the NSW Government’s Companion Animals regulations.
“This is about doing the right thing for these animals,’’ he said.
Cr Rowell received support from Cr Bob Thompson, who commended him for his constant support for the animals in the shelter, as well as the staff employed there.
“This is not about anything other than compassion – compassion for these animals that will benefit if we find the money to provide these exercise pens,’’ Cr Thompson said.
“And if it’s about the money, the former general manager, Paul Tosi, used to tell me that there’s always a bit of money around for something extra like this,’’ Cr Thompson said.
But his argument did not sway councillors who were opposed to approving around $40,000 to fund the proposal. Money which had not been including in the recent budget.
Veteran councillor Meg Oates said making improvements to the animal facility “would not be priority for most of our residents.
“And as much as we’d like to, we just can’t afford a super dooper facility,’’ the Labor councillor said.
Council voted against Cr Rowell’s motion.
