New impound facilityto improve animal carewith $1.9m investment

A NEW $1.9m animal impound facility has opened in Gunnedah, providing improved care for lost, surrendered and displaced animals while boosting rehoming opportunities across the shire.

The purpose-built Animal Impound Facility on Quia Road was officially opened by mayor Colleen Fuller and representatives from Gunnedah Shire Council.

It features a modern animal shelter, free-range exercise yards, a veterinary treatment room, office space, a rehoming orientation yard and a public reception area.

The project was jointly funded by the federal and state governments along with the council.

Council community and development director Andrew Johns said the new facility was a major upgrade on the previous impound, which had served the community for more than 20 years.

“The original impound was regularly operating beyond capacity as companion animal ownership increased across the shire,” Mr Johns said.

“We now have double the capacity to provide a safe, secure environment for lost and displaced animals, as well as a welcoming outdoor space where owners can be reunited with their pets and prospective adopters and foster carers can meet dogs needing new homes.

“The modern facility also ensures council is compliant with current and future regulations while improving biosecurity for impounded animals and protecting the wider community from potential disease.”

Gunnedah Shire mayor Colleen Fuller (second from left) with Gunnedah Animal Welfare League members Dianne Trill, Linda Taylor, Belinda Ruttley, Jenni Hewitt, Dianne Ruttley, Robyn Huggins and Jenny McIntosh. Photo: GSC.

The new centre includes a dedicated isolation pen built with easily sanitised materials to minimise the spread of illness, along with a veterinary treatment room designed to support animal health while reducing cross-contamination.

Additional exercise yards and an enclosed outdoor meet-and-greet area provide safe spaces for animals to exercise and interact with potential adopters.

Other features include a laundry, eye wash station, security lighting and CCTV.

The council’s community safety manager, Tony Krawczyk, said the facility would also strengthen the council’s education and community outreach programs.

“Now our team can meet with members of the public and rehoming organisations onsite in a secure, user-friendly space, making it easier to reunite companion animals with their owners and safely transfer animals to rescue organisations and transport agencies,” he said.

“Rehoming is an important part of what we do, and we are proud to have worked alongside organisations such as the Gunnedah Animal Welfare League to reunite and rehome 127 animals during the 2025–26 financial year.”

Mr Krawczyk said the facility was already helping educate the next generation of responsible pet owners.

“Local students have toured the facility to learn about animal care, responsible pet ownership through registration, microchipping and desexing, and council’s role in animal compliance and community safety,” he said.

“They also see how council works to reunite pets with their owners and the rehoming process when that isn’t possible.”

The former impound building has been refurbished and repurposed as a dedicated cattery.