On one operating table in a small cottage, RSPCA ACT is expected to help an unending stream of abandoned, abused or unwanted animals from around the region. The waiting area in the facility’s veterinary clinic doubles as a laundry, and the team is calling on the Canberra community to get the message across that this isn’t good enough.

Despite a new purpose-built facility for the animal welfare organisation being an ACT Labor election promise of the 2020 ACT election, they are still running out of the worse-for-wear location in Weston.

“Our shelter was never purpose-built, it has always just expanded. We have been in conversation with the ACT Government for many, many, many years and we were really happy prior to the last election… It is now four years later and we’re still struggling, we still don’t have the fit-for-purpose facility,” says Michelle Robertson, CEO of RSPCA ACT.  

In 2022, a block of land in Pialligo was earmarked for the new facility. However, environmental factors, such as the discovery of habitats of the Striped Legless Lizard, put things on hold. While still there, the plot has been slightly reassigned to the left with a number of people on board to develop plans and concepts; however, no moves have been made.

“We have met with the minister and the commitment is still there from the ACT Government and everybody that I’ve spoken to. We are very grateful for the support that we receive in principle, but the point is we need to accelerate and prioritise the construction of this new facility,” says Ms Robertson.

RSPCA ACT is hoping the community will lend their support and help push for the new facility to be built. Ms Robertson says people can help by writing to their local member of parliament about the development.  

We can’t talk about this for another five to ten years, it needs to happen because every year that we lose, there are literally thousands of cats that are being born and dogs that are being surrendered.

The Facility

A cottage, sheds, house-like buildings and shipping containers make up RSPCA ACT. Even with all the expansions and modifications, it is only meant to house 250 animals but frequently has up to 350. This doesn’t include all the animals in care with foster carers. To say they’re at capacity is an understatement.

During the pandemic lockdowns, many people bought or adopted a companion to keep them company. As we have emerged from the haze, some of these animals are no longer wanted.

“Plus, the cost of living is making it really difficult for people. Some can’t afford to keep their pets which is heartbreaking and we also have a lot of stray animals,” says Ms Robertson.

These combined factors mean that more animals are coming in than the team has seen in many years and their space just isn’t cut out for it. The tiny clinic doesn’t have the capacity to do large volumes of desexing – unlike many other RSPCAs around the country.

“We have between 270-280 cats in care and it has been like this for months. Even with the numbers that we adopt out, we are getting more cats in than we are adopting out. All of those cats need to be desexed because we have such cramped spaces, that we can’t do it efficiently. We just can’t get on top of the problem.”

They are having to outsource veterinary care, such as desexing, to other clinics, which makes the surgery more expensive. Even the spaces for the humans who come to the centre aren’t up to scratch. When CD visited the centre, staff and volunteers were sat around a table outside on a rainy day.

“We work in an incredibly high-stress environment, especially where there are many animals. A lot of animals come in appalling condition. It takes a toll physically and mentally, and there’s no nice place can go and sit and have your lunch and decompress.”

Spread out buildings with uneven surfaces and rocky paths connecting them render the facility inaccessible to wheelchair users. The cramped space means they can’t bring in school groups or host educational events.

“We don’t have the proper infrastructure to care for these animals so we’re just managing the problem,” says Ms Robertson “We want to move from just managing the situation to a space of early intervention, prevention and education, where we can stop these problems from occurring. But we don’t have the infrastructure and the space to do it.”

The vision

Ideally, the new facility would have been built four years ago. Ms Robertson says they were hoping construction would start this year, but it is now highly unlikely to happen.

“If construction can start next year, that would be really good because it means by 2026, we can then hopefully start looking towards the next ten years and working out programs that will make a real difference and a real contribution to animal welfare problems in the ACT.”

A facility needs to enable those that operate out of it, says Ms Robertson. However, at the moment, their successes have been despite the space they occupy. Their calls for a new space don’t come for a need for something new or shiny, but rather to do the work to address animal welfare concerns around the region.

“The vision is for us to be able to have not just accommodation for animals but a space where we can run programs to help people be responsible pet owners, to help prevent animals from being abandoned,” she says.

We’re not getting ahead, we’re not solving those problems at the core, we’re just managing the consequences.

The ever-growing number of creatures in care is indicative of serious animal welfare concerns that need to be addressed, says Michelle, who can’t remember the last time they had less than 15 rosters. It isn’t just puppies, kittens, cats and dogs that come through the doors; there are birds, guinea pigs, rabbits and almost any animal you can think of – all needing help. The new space would provide something further than a home for animals who are no longer wanted, it would aim to help prevent the animals from ending up unwanted in the first place.

“There are reasons and we understand, it is not about pointing fingers or being judgy. There are sometimes reasons, but we can do better as a community. We need to work on these problems together but we need a proper base to do it from,” says Ms Robertson.

Dedicated to not easing the pressure on the build of the new facility until it happens, Ms Robertson says they will continue their work from their facility until they can get something better.

“We get amazing results but it is just because we have such a dedicated team. It is our staff, volunteers and our support community. It is this love and support that help us.”

CD has contacted the ACT Government for comment.

To help support RSPCA ACT or find your newest family member visit; rspca-act.org.au

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