Charity plans new rehoming facility for research animals at Wyong Race Club
The Central Coast could become the epicentre of rehoming the nation’s lab rats, mice and guinea pigs after their research days are done under an Australian first plan. Learn more here.
The former Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) base within the grounds of Wyong Race Club will be the site of a very different type of rescue under new plans to turn it into an adoption centre for lab rats, mice and guinea pigs after they’re finished being used for research.
The building on Rose St was built by the race club for the VRA but has since been used by various community groups over the years including Meals on Wheels.
But in an Australian-first, plans have been lodged by animal welfare charity Liberty Foundation to turn the site into the nation’s first dedicated adoption centre for small mammals used in academic, industrial, medicine and scientific research.
Founded on the Central Coast eight years ago, the charity has worked hard to form a bridge
with research establishments and their ethics committees to rehome animals as domestic pets or companions.
Founder and director Paula Wallace said they had rehomed about 950 animals, which was “symbolic” of the hundreds of thousands of small mammals destined for “terminal” protocols at the completion of their research programs every year.
“The awareness in the general public about animals used in research is low,” she said.
“Even less is known about rehoming,”
Ms Wallace said most rats, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits used in university, medical or scientific research were born in captivity and euthanised after their programs — most living no more than about six months.
“Most never see a window, see the sunlight or feel fresh air,” she said.
According to NSW Primary industry data there was almost 320,000 small mammals were used in laboratory research last year including:
■ 287,804 mice;
■ 29,387 rats;
■ 1494 rabbits; and
■ 251 guinea pigs.
Under the plans the animals would be brought to the Rose St building where they would be housed until suitable fur-ever homes were found.
There are no internal layout or structural changes to the building with existing rooms used for a reception, kitchen, staffroom and storage.
The animal caging and socialisation areas are proposed for the existing warehouse and mezzanine level.
According to the development application (DA) the centre will be staffed by a manager and up to six volunteers from 9am-6pm, Monday-Friday and at various times on weekends to check on the animals.
When there are no personnel on site, the animals will be monitored by CCTV.
“On occasion there may be larger groups of volunteers attending for training and/or induction sessions,” the DA states.
“Groups would be limited to a maximum of 20 people. Members of the public can visit by appointment only.”
The centre will have capacity for 120 animals including 45 rats, 45 mice, six rabbits and 24 guinea pigs.
All waste will be sealed in plastic bags and deposited in a 1100-litre general waste bin, located on the driveway of the property and collected fortnightly by an external contractor.
The DA states there will be minimal noise given rats and mice are typically quiet and while guinea pigs and rabbits can vocalise, they do so usually intermittently and rarely louder than a person.
Ventilation will be installed to extract odour from inside the animal housing areas using fans and dispersed into the air where it will “undetectable to neighbouring properties”
Liberty Foundation is also investigating the viability of becoming a host organisation under the federal government’s Work for the Dole scheme giving unemployed people a “unique opportunity to work with animals from research facilities and build skills in small animal care”.
The DA is on public exhibition with submissions closing Friday, December 12.
