The Albury Animal Care Centre (AACC), formerly known as the Albury Animal Management Facility, has been in operation at its current Mudge Street site since 1998 and provides services to Albury, Wodonga, Indigo, Towong and Greater Hume local government areas.

Since its inception, an external contactor has been delivering the day-to-day operations at the Centre which consists of a front office, four housing structures, stock yards and exercise area.

The existing centre currently meets both NSW and Victorian statutory obligations for animal management facilities, but it is recognised that the facility is nearing the end of its lifecycle.

From 1 July 2021, AlburyCity will commence operating the Centre with plans to redevelop the site to create a new facility that better meets the needs of our community and animals.

The development of a new animal care facility seeks to:

• Meet existing and future demands of AlburyCity and its regional partners
• Continue to meet animal care and welfare standards
• Facilitate greater community engagement and education opportunities
• Improve customer service experience

The AACC helps keep our community and our animals safe. The most common reason animals end up in the AACC is where they are found on our streets with no way of contacting their owners - this may be dogs, cats or even livestock.

We don't want any animals to end up in the Centre, but in some circumstances impounding the animal is the safest option.

Where necessary, the AACC will hold impounded animals for a minimum of seven days to provide opportunity for the owner to claim it. After this point, suitable animals will be rehomed where possible through either rescue agencies, fostering or adoption.

Whilst at the Centre, animals will be given their own pen with access to food and drinking water. They will also be given 'enrichment' opportunities, such as exercise, regular human contact and an interactive and stimulating environment.

If your pet ends up at the Centre you can rest assured that they will be safe, however, we still want to encourage owners to be doing everything they can to make sure they don't have to come in.

Here are a few tips to keep your pets at home:

• Make sure your pet is registered and microchipped and that your contact details are up to date.
  • When a Ranger collects a lost animal they will first check for a collar with contact details or scan for a microchip. If they can locate the owner they will attempt to make contact to reunite you with your animal before it is are impounded.
• Make sure you are a responsible pet owner.
  • Choose the right pet for your lifestyle and give them opportunities for socialisation, training and an enriched environment to live in.
• Make sure your yard is secure, and there aren't any places in your fence for your pet to escape.
• Make sure your animals are not free to roam and potentially disturb or harm native wildlife.
• Keep your dog an a leash if you're not in an off-leash area.

We’re seeking your feedback to better understand the services you would like to see in the AACC which will inform the design of the Centre. In addition, it will help us to develop a service model that best meets the needs of our community.