WE all want the best for our pets and homeless animals, as we love them and care for them. That's why this petition is absolutely necessary to ensure that Camden Council takes action to build an Animal Care Facility within the Camden Local Government Area (LGA), and not put it off again with false hopes, as has occurred in the past!

At its meeting dated 8 June 2021, Council resolved to identify a new site for an Animal Care Facility and provide a briefing and report back to Council as soon as possible.  The local newspaper 'Advertiser' quoted Cr Lara Symkowiak as saying "she asked Council staff to identify a new site for an Animal Care Facility and provide a briefing and report to Council as soon as possible. We only have a couple of meetings before this term of Council and I would like it briefed and brought back to Council, if possible, by the July meeting".

Currently, Camden LGA animal care services are outsourced via tender to an external veterinary clinic, who already supports three other major LGA's. This veterinary clinic does a great job, but in saying that, cannot support the growth in projected population for the area.  The Australia Bureau of Statistics states the estimate for Camden Council area as of the 30th June 2020 is 107,806. Since the previous year, the population has grown by 6.30%. Population growth in Greater Sydney was only 1.08%.

For many years Camden Council has made the decision to tender its animal care services to an external provider, instead of building its own facility.  This decision has resulted in increased pressure on rescue organisations, volunteer-run groups and other neighbouring Animal Care Facilities of having to re-home hundreds of dogs, puppies and cats since.

This decision has saved Camden Council a substantial amount of money at the expense of increased burden on volunteers, difficulty for owners in retrieving their pets as well as poorer welfare and outcomes for animals. This is despite Camden Council continuing to collect annual fees and charges in relation to animals from residents, as well as state government funding and other external financial sources.

Council needs to take action now and select a site, develop a project timeline to construct, along with a budget to ensure that this occurs not like in the past where it has been mentioned numerous times with NO ACTION being done!

I ask you all to please sign this petition to show your support in ensuring Camden Council builds a new Animal Care Facility within the Camden LGA.  Please share with your friends and family in the area to raise awareness of this struggle.