Iconic Sydney charity pound set to close after NSW government rejects funding application

Thousands of Australians have joined the call for the NSW government to provide crucial funding to a Sydney pound so it doesn’t have to close.

Thousands of desperate animal-lovers have joined an urgent plea for the NSW government to save Sydney’s only charity pound from permanent closure.

Sydney Dogs and Cats Home will be unable to stay open unless it’s granted the $9 million in funding it was denied by the state government following its submission earlier this year.

The multimillion-dollar cash injection would have allowed the organisation to move out of its temporary facilities in Strathfield and Austral and into a new purpose-built facility.

The organisation, which services more than 100 suburbs across eight councils, was given just $500,000 – enough to cover operational costs for this financial year only.

The charity, along with hundreds of people it has helped, have called on an eleventh hour overturn of the funding rejection so its important work can continue.

General manager Melissa Penn said the centre was unlikely to survive beyond the next 12 months without urgent funding to begin building the new facility.

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Hugh Sheridan has joined the ‘save our shelter’ campaign. Picture: Instagram

Without funding, the charity will not survive. Picture: Instagram

Remaining in the two temporary locations was not financially viable as a long term option, Ms Penn said, and doing so significantly reduces the charity’s capacity to take on animals from other shelters.

“Our future is in dire straights,” she said.

When the charity approached the state government for help 12 months ago, it was given low rent and told future building costs would be supported.

In June however, the state government told the charity it would not be awarding it the $9 million grant, instead handing over funding that would take a year to burn through.

“It was only a small operational grant and offered a very short term fix. There’s real problems for us without that funding,” Ms Penn said.

In response to the state government’s rejection of the funding, the organisation launched an online campaign with the message, “save our shelter” and asked the community to sign a petition to pledge their support.

“We really need this security so the animals can have a future,” Ms Penn said.

The organisation is anxiously awaiting the outcome of a review of the state government’s initial decision, which is due to be announced in the next two to four weeks.

As more time passes however, the more difficult the logistics become to co-ordinate.

The new facility will take between nine and 12 months to build, with construction and materials costs continuing to increase.

The decision may be overturned in coming weeks. Picture: Instagram

“The longer we wait, the more expensive it gets. We need this quickly from the government,” Ms Penn said.

“We need funding now so we can start the project quickly. The sooner the better.”

More than 7000 people have pledged their support online, with hundreds of others imploring NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet to overturn the decision.

Among those to throw their weight behind the cause is Australian actor Hugh Sheridan, Mamamia’s Mia Freedman and Bachelorette contestant Millie Rubio.

The Sydney Dogs and Cats Home has been running since 1946 and is Sydney’s only charity pound.

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Originally published as Iconic Sydney charity pound set to close after NSW government rejects funding application