RSPCA Shelter Upgrade: Whyalla

RSPCA Shelter Upgrade: Whyalla

The RSPCA Whyalla animal shelter urgently needs a makeover – and we need your help to make it happen!

Each year, the Whyalla RSPCA shelter takes in around 1500 animals, including some of the most vulnerable in the state. Many of them require urgent veterinary care, ongoing behavioural support and rehabilitation before we can find them new, loving forever homes.

The shelter also provides wider support for the regional community. We provide emergency boarding for the pets of people going through tough times, like family breakdown, domestic violence or serious illness. We are also there when disaster strikes, taking in animals affected by bushfires, house fires and vehicle accidents.

This shelter is long overdue for an upgrade. With your support, we can build a facility the whole community can be proud of.

Together, let’s turn our shelter into an Animal Care Centre that effectively promotes the wellbeing of animals, the staff and volunteers who care for them and the visitors who each year find new family members to adopt.

Your kind donation will directly help us achieve this vision – all funds raised via this campaign will be used exclusively for the Whyalla Shelter Upgrade project.

Click ‘Read more’ below for Frequently Asked Questions.

We are currently inviting individuals, businesses and community organisations to join us as VIP project partners. To discuss opportunities and recognition available and learn more about this important redevelopment please contact Andre, Marta or Kate on 1300 4777 22 or email campus@rspcasa.org.au.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where is the RSPCA Whyalla shelter located and what area does it service?

Our Whyalla shelter is located at 7 Cook Street, Whyalla Norrie. It proudly services the surrounding region, taking in most of Eyre Peninsula, as well as Port Augusta and Port Pirie.

What services does the RSPCA Whyalla shelter offer?

  • Cat and dog adoptions (we encourage people to visit the shelter when looking for a new pet)
  • Animal care education, advice and referral service
  • Boarding for cats and dogs
  • Emergency boarding for the cats and dogs of people in crisis situations
  • Animal surrender for people who can no longer care for their pet
  • Volunteer opportunities

Why is this development needed?

The facilities at our shelter are very outdated. The main building is deteriorating, is not weather-proof (floods in heavy rain) and is not viable to repair. While it has served the community for many years and we have managed up until now, the centre requires a total rebuild to achieve the standards of animal care expected by our community.

What exactly is planned with this upgrade?

New, modern kennels for boarding, emergency boarding, and more accommodation for animals surrendered to us and incoming via RSPCA rescue officers and inspectors. New office space which will include a reception area, an education room, animal adoption area, bathroom facilities and full disability access.

What is the fundraising target for the upgrade?

We need community support to raise the remaining $250,000 required to build this $800,000 facility upgrade.

My business is interested in sponsoring this project, how can we find out more?

We are currently inviting individuals, businesses and community organisations to join us as VIP project partners. To discuss opportunities and recognition available and learn more about this important redevelopment please contact Andre, Marta or Kate on 1300 4777 22 or email campus@rspcasa.org.au.

When will construction begin?

Depending on how quickly the funds can be raised, construction may be able to begin as soon as the end of 2022, otherwise early 2023.

How will this development improve animal welfare?

This development represents an investment in the infrastructure for the future of animal welfare in our region. It will provide:

  • Increased emergency boarding capacity
  • Increased capacity to accommodate dogs
  • Improved environment for dogs – quieter, more space, increased protection from weather
  • Improved dog behaviour via less stressful, more comfortable housing. This will also reduce the length of stay required to rehabilitate animals, getting more animals in to comfortable homes and faster. Reduced length of stay means more space, increasing the amount of animals we can rehabilitate and rehome each year.*
  • Increased capacity to accommodate volunteers, who in turn provide care and emotional enrichment to the animals in care
  • Improved disease control.
  • Improved facilities for conducting community education about best-practise animal care.

 

* We are confident the new centre will result in an increase in the number of animals being adopted. Currently, more than 65% of animals coming into our Whyalla shelter are having to be transported to our Lonsdale shelter south of Adelaide due to the shortage of local adoptions. Being adopted locally will save these animals from making the 670km (7 hour) journey between the two shelters*

Campaign goal

$250,000

Thank you for your donation!

Your kindness will make a huge difference to the safety and wellbeing of animals in South Australia.

Do you have friends, family or colleagues who might also want to help? Why not share news of your donation via social media. Every donation we receive goes a long way to expanding the work of RSPCA South Australia.

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