Tweed Pound

In April 2019, Council resolved to invest $1.5million to investigate the feasibility of a new modern pound on the Council-owned site at Stotts Creek (751 Eviron Road, Eviron).

Following further investigations, it was determined by Council that it was not feasible or suitable to redevelop this site for a new permanent facility. Other alternative sites are being investigated.

This was, in part, due to the current pound facility being within the area approved for the expansion of Council’s waste operations at Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre, which includes an organics processing facility for the Tweed’s green waste.

Council is improving the Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre so we can reduce the amount of the community's waste being sent to landfill and recover more right here in the Tweed. This will help to limit the impact on ratepayers from the recent, well-publicised increases to the cost of processing recyclables being experienced globally, as well as the introduction of a new waste levy in Queensland.

All councils in NSW have statutory defined roles and responsibilities for managing compliance and the care and rehoming of dogs and cats under the Companion Animals Act 1998 and Companion Animals Regulation 2005 as well as the more recent requirement of the NSW Companion Animals Amendment (Rehoming Animals) Act 2022.

Friends of the Pound is a not-for-profit organisation who rescue and rehome animals from the Tweed Pound. Whilst a long term, co-operative partner of Tweed Shire Council, Friends of the Pound operates independently from the Pound and is solely dependent on donations and the fund-raising efforts of its volunteers.

Council is very supportive of continuing its close working relationship with Friends of the Pound as it progresses through each of the above temporary and permanent Pound relocation processes.

For further information on Friends of the Pound, please visit their website at friendsofthepound.com or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FriendsofthePound

Council is taking all steps and efforts to ensure that we maintain our current high standard of service and care of our impounded animals, throughout both the temporary arrangements and development of a modern pound and rehoming centre at South Murwillumbah.

However, there will be some minor differences in how these services are delivered at the Tygalgah facility, as compared to the previous Stott’s Creek Pound.

Under the above State legislation, all councils are required to provide an impounding facility, commonly known as a Pound, to carry out its regulatory functions for Companion Animals (dogs and cats).

Councils have the option of providing this service through their own facility, or through an approved third party animal welfare organisation.

Tweed Shire Council has proudly established and maintained its own Pound facility for over 30 years. Through dedicated community support and Council funding, Council’s facility at Stotts Creek has been one of the best functioning and regarded Pounds on the North Coast.

An important factor in the success of the facility has been the longstanding presence of Friends of the Pound, who have provided Council with a consistent supply of hard working volunteers who assist Council staff with the care of the animals and the facility. They also provide great assistance to Council with the foster care and rehoming of those unclaimed impounded animals.

Many people have the misconception that animals that are collected and taken to the Pound are automatically euthanized. This is definitely not the case. Council Rangers impound animals for a variety of reasons, including those with existing owners that stray or are lost, those involved in serious attacks, feral animals, or those that are surrendered for medical reasons, or are unwanted by their owners.

The majority of impounded animals with existing microchipped and registered details are returned to their owners. Many other unregistered and unwanted animals are checked and treated for sale and rehoming by either Council or Friends of the Pound, or other animal rescue organisations. These requirements have been updated through the NSW Companion Animals Amendment (Rehoming Animals) Act 2022, needing a second rehoming organisation to assist. Council has therefore organised an agreement with a second rehoming partner, the Animal Welfare League (QLD) based on the Gold Coast. A small proportion of the remaining animals may regrettably need to be euthanised for either regulatory, medical or humane reasons.

For information on Council’s record in rehoming impounded animals see Euthanasia and rehoming rates.