Ipswich welcomes Animal Welfare League of Queensland to run pound
24 September 2021
Ipswich City Council’s Animal Management Centre will be run by the Animal Welfare League of Queensland (AWLQ) after their successful tender was approved by Council.
Council’s Animal Management Centre houses lost animals and those available for adoption, with the management of the centre contracted to a welfare organisation.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said AWLQ are highly regarded in the community for their work in animal welfare and have demonstrated a variety of community engagement programs which will benefit the Ipswich community.
“We welcome the AWLQ back to Ipswich after they operated the Animal Management Centre from 2011 to 2016,” Mayor Harding said.
“We look forward to working closely with them to provide stray and homeless animals with a safe haven, while providing a valuable service to the Ipswich community.
“We also thank the RSPCA for their support and service over the past five years.
“Together, we have achieved many positive outcomes for unclaimed and surrendered animals, and we hope to work together in the future through initiatives like the RSPCA’s Operation Wanted.”
In 2019-2020 a total of 2,586 animals passed through the Ipswich City Council Animal Management Centre.
Governance and Transparency Committee Chair Councillor Jacob Madsen said the AWLQ has demonstrated they have the capacity, capability and experience to provide these services to the community.
“The current contract with the RSPCA comes to an end on 30 September 2021,” Cr Madsen said.
“The AWLQ has already begun working with council in preparation for the changeover on 1 October.
“The AWLQ are working to achieve zero euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals and council looks forward to working with them.”
AWLQ’s Chief Executive Officer Denise Bradley said AWLQ is looking forward to having a presence in the Ipswich community.
“We are excited to be working alongside the people of Ipswich once again, to create a brighter future for animals in need and supporting council and the community to keep pets and their families together,” Ms Bradley said.
“Furthermore, we will continue to maintain our promise to never euthanise a healthy, sociable or treatable animal in our care.
“We make this promise to both the animals in our care and the community.”
Unclaimed and surrendered animals are behaviourally assessed and made available for adoption at the Animal Management Centre.
All animals available for adoption are desexed, microchipped, vaccinated and wormed.
Wandering animals can be taken to the Animal Management Centre at 6 Hooper Street, West Ipswich from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday.