By JESSE GRAHAM
ABANDONED animals will have a new place to play at Animal Aid, with a new centre set-up at the Coldstream shelter – and residents can come along with their pets to try out the training grounds.
On Friday, 11 September, Coldstream’s Animal Aid opened its Wellington Centre – an area where dogs can be exercised and trained on the property.
Animal Aid representative Debra Boland said the centre, a concrete fenced-in area with training and exercise equipment, will “enrich” the lives of animals at the shelter.
“It’s fully decked out with agility equipment, so they can do some training,” she said.
She said it will also provide a meeting point in times of emergency, and an area where people can attend obedience and agility lessons for their own animals.
The centre is named after long-time volunteer, Marg Wellington, who Ms Boland said helps out in rain, hail, or shine.
“She was a little embarrassed to start with, but it’s very appropriately named – she really has been such a dedicated volunteer for the dogs in that time,” Ms Boland said.
“It doesn’t matter what the weather is, she’ll be here and she’ll do what she can in the conditions, even if it’s just spending time with them in their pen, giving them a cuddle.”
Ms Boland said the shelter was “pretty full” after having more animals handed in over the winter period, and that the beginning of spring was a busy time for animals being surrendered by their owners.
“Coming out of winter is usually a much higher rate of surrenders, and we don’t know if that’s just the Christmas presents that have grown up now, or whether it’s all the mud,” she said.
“Obviously, there are always times where it is the best option, because the situation they’re in is not in their best interest, or working for anybody, including the animal – we can try and work out what’s going wrong and support people through that.”
Heading towards the Christmas season, Ms Boland urged people to consider adoption before buying from a breeder or store, when looking for a pet, and to put as much thought into getting an animal as they would for having a baby.
“That’s what you’re doing, you’re adding a new member to your family, and you need to have a suitable environment and the time to put into training – particularly with dogs – no matter what age you acquire them at,“ she said.
“There are so many animals in shelters all over the country that are perfectly deserving of love and affection, and if you’re someone who can give that to them, why not come in and have a look?”
While Ms Boland said Animal Aid was not a no-kill shelter, she said staff would “try every option for every individual”, and that euthanasing animals was always a last resort.
For more information on the Wellington Centre, classes for animals, or adopting, call Animal Aid on 9739 0300.
