Lismore pound on Wyrallah Rd renamed to Animal Care Facility on back of $375k overhaul

The Lismore pound has been overhauled to bring the dilapidated facility back to life with a new name, as animal welfare groups deal with a spike in pets being surrendered.

The Lismore pound has been overhauled to bring the dilapidated facility back to life with a new name – the Animal Care Facility.

A six-stage fit-out has finished and includes a new shed to house the refreshed cattery, office and service and food preparation area.

The upgrade which cost about $375,000 also includes dog kennels, an exercise area, dog wash bay and a main office revamp.

It comes as Tweed Shire Council works on a state-of-the art pound at Murwillumbah worth $9.1 million.

The Animal Pound and Rehoming Facility is expected to be completed by mid 2025 and comes as Northern Rivers rescue groups battle to deal with the sheer number of surrendered or abandoned animals.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin with Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg at the new facility.

The much-needed spruce up in Lismore was funded by the state government with a flood recovery grant.

Animal Rights and Rescue Group’s Lani Moore said Lismore City Council approached the organisation as part of the grant application process.

“We worked together and it’s nice to see council understand how important we are to the community,” she said.

Accompanying the upgrade to the Wyrallah Rd facility was a $10,000 windfall for the animal charity.

Animal Rights and Rescue plans to use the money to upgrade and eventually buy new enclosures.

“Some of our cat enclosures are actually housing rabbits at the moment. and we’re waiting on a quote for the other enclosures,” Ms Moore said.

Animal Rights and Rescue Group’s Lani Moore with Whisper, the goat, who has come into temporary care. Picture: supplied

The charity on Three Chain Rd, South Lismore has been operating since the early 1990s.

Ms Moore said surrenders were often a result of the housing crisis and strict tenancies.

“Generally people surrender animals to us due to rentals,” Ms Moore said.

“We can check for microchips on any strays that are surrendered to us but we still go through council to allow an owner the opportunity to come forward.”

Ronnie the abandoned rooster was rescued at Nimbin by Lismore's Animal Rights and Rescue Group. The group is increasingly dealing with more unusual pets than cats and dogs.

She said the charity was still dealing with flow on effect from the Covid pandemic and the 2022 floods.

Mostly, the charity deals with dogs and cats – but Ms Moore said other domesticated animals like rabbits have been increasingly common.

“We are still getting roosters too, since you can’t have them in town,” she said.

Rabbit Sanctuary co-founder Kim Cooney has been recruiting foster carers, while the Animal Rights and Rescue Group has noticed a spike in bunny surrenders.

Mayor Steve Krieg said the Wyrallah Rd upgrade marked an “incredible improvement” on the old pound.

He said pets like cats and dogs deserved to be treated with care and respect.

State Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, also the NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, said: “This is such a worthwhile project and another example of the NSW government and Council working together for what is a much-improved community facility.”

“It is a major boost for everyone who loves and cares for our companion animals,” she said.

Ms Saffin also applauded the $10,000 for Animal Rights and Rescue Group and said it would go a long way toward purchasing new equipment.