Details of improvements to Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter have been released by council, with works to be completed by early 2019.
Stage 1 of the program will involve replacing the roof over the existing dog kennels at the Mulgrave shelter with a pitched roof that will minimise direct sunlight during summer and optimise sunlight during winter.
In addition to the new roof, planned works will include passively designed climate control, new meet and greet areas to facilitate the adoption of animals from the shelter, and new green space that will be installed down the centre of the dog aisles, Hawkesbur City Council general manager, Peter Conroy said in a statement.
“The green space will provide additional shade and a cooler environment in summer,” he said.
“The new green space will soften the look of the shelter by reducing the wire fence and brick appearance. It will also introduce some natural surroundings for dogs to see and sniff, in addition to their walks outside.”
Council aims to have the works completed by early 2019.
Chair of the Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter Working Party, Cr Danielle Wheeler, hoped the measures “will make it more comfortable for the animals when completed”.
The new works will be made possible using a $100,000 donation from a Windsor resident, and an earlier $75,000 private contribution from another donor.
The $100,000 donation was from the deceased estate of animal lover Anna Zylstra, who left money to the shelter as part of her wish to help animals.
Deputy Mayor, Mary Lyons-Buckett, has personally met with Anna’s closest friends Dezzzi Henderson and Ash Harrison, and said it was wonderful news that the shelter would soon have a new roof and improvements.
“This is welcome news for the animals of our shelter, to have a better roof to help reduce their exposure to the elements, especially as we are all seeing climate change leading to higher temperatures in our region,” Cr Lyons-Buckett said.
“Council’s Animal Shelter Working Party is exactly as the name suggests - a working party - and they have been doing exactly that - working, and working hard to get improvements on many levels for the animals at the shelter.
“I commend the working party for the hard work they have already done. Their motivation is incredible and every member of the working party has the interests of the dogs and cats as the highest priority.
“It’s no easy task to coordinate issues around a Shelter which is run on behalf of four councils - Hornsby, Hills, Penrith and Hawkesbury.
“Our shelter staff, volunteers, rescue agencies and our working party members are all doing their best and we can all achieve so much more by working together.
“I’m sure our community members look forward to their continued efforts for our lost and homeless pets that just need to be reunited with their owners or to be given a new home.”
To keep up to date with the shelter’s Dog and Cat of the Week promotion and other council updates, see council’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hawkesburycitycouncil
