PET ADOPTION BOOST: SYDNEY'S 80-YEAR-OLD ANIMAL SHELTER FINALLY HAS A FOREVER HOME
If you have been thinking about pet adoption this summer, there is a heartwarming new reason to head south of Sydney.
Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, which has been caring for lost and abandoned animals since 1946, has finally opened the doors of its new permanent shelter at Kurnell in the Sutherland Shire.
The move ends five unsettled years after the not-for-profit had to leave its long-time base at Carlton in 2021.
As Pet Industry News reported on November 6, the new site more than doubles the shelter's capacity.
A big win for pet adoption in Sydney
The 20,000 square metre site sits on Crown land and was built with $14.3 million from the NSW Government.
Premier Chris Minns officially opened it on October 30, according to the NSW Government.
Each year at Kurnell, the Home expects to care for more than 3,000 animals and arrange more than 2,000 adoptions.
It also hopes to reunite more than 1,000 lost pets with their families and support more than 800 animals in foster care.
The organisation has rehomed more than 200,000 animals over its 80-year history.
Managing director Melissa Penn said opening the doors was "a huge milestone".
Inside the new shelter
The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader took a look around and found plenty to love.
There are three blocks of 10 kennels for dogs, each with separate day and night areas and a quiet decompression yard.
Dogs also have three large exercise yards and a walking track around the edge of the property.
Cats have their own condos with room for about 20 at a time, plus a sunny daytime playpen the team calls the penthouse.
Rabbits and guinea pigs are cared for too, and there is even a resident rooster named Russell Crowe.
The first stage cost about $18 million, and fundraising is under way for a vet clinic, which is expected to cost around $8 million.
Why your help matters
The Leader reported that the average stay for a dog had stretched from 44 days to 55 days before the new site opened.
Larger dogs and those with behavioural challenges can take longer to find the right family.
Only around 30 to 40 per cent of the animals are housed on site, with the rest living with foster carers.
The Home has about 40 staff and around 150 volunteers each week, helping with everything from animal care to laundry and transport.
How pet adoption works at Kurnell
The shelter is at 69 to 83 Sir Joseph Banks Drive, Kurnell.
According to the Home's Kurnell guide, walk-in adoption enquiries are welcome from 10am to 4pm, seven days a week.
Check an animal's online profile before you visit to make sure it is staying at Kurnell rather than with a foster carer.
Check in at reception when you arrive, and staff will bring animals out to meet you, as wandering through the kennels can stress them.
Casual visits are not open just yet, but the team plans open days once everyone has settled in.
Thinking of adopting before Christmas?
A pet is a wonderful addition to the family, but it is a commitment that can last well over a decade.
Think about your home, your budget, your work hours and who will care for your pet when you travel.
If you are not ready to adopt, fostering is a lovely way to help an animal while it waits for a permanent family.
Already have a furry friend?
The NSW Government is urging owners to make sure their pets are microchipped and registered on the NSW Pet Registry, which makes it much easier to reunite lost animals with their families.
For one lucky dog or cat, your visit to Kurnell could be the start of a whole new life.
