Independent review of Glenfield Road Animal Shelter complete

Independent review of Glenfield Road Animal Shelter complete -  27 May 2016

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The City of Wagga Wagga has today publicly released an external review of the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter (GRAS).

Highly qualified veterinary specialist Jacob Michelsen under took the independent review, which was a key action announced by General Manager Alan Eldridge in his open letter to the community on 7 April.

Dr Michelsen’s report assessed both the physical infrastructure at the facility as well as its management, policies and procedures.

“The review found many positive aspects of the shelter and while there are also many recommendations for changes and improvements, it’s important to not lose sight of the substantial improvements that have been made over the past few years,” Dr Michelsen said.

“The Glenfield Road Animal Shelter is capable of becoming a model facility showing the way forward in humane companion animal care.”

The scope of the review was to not only asses GRAS against current legislation, but to compare it against best practice in animal management and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals draft guidelines and standards.

“The review confirmed the shelter was compliant with current legislation, but we are committed to being a best practice facility in line with the recommendations,” Mr Eldridge said.

“These recommendations will be put into place as soon as possible and I would like to assure the community that all past issues at the shelter have been addressed.

“More than $70,000 worth of improvements for the shelter will also be determined by Council at the 30 May Ordinary Meeting, including an exercise area for animals and creating a long-term strategy for management of the facility.”

Mr Eldridge thanked Dr Michelsen for the in-depth review, which was completed two weeks ahead of schedule.

As part of Council’s commitment to transparency on the management of GRAS, the full report and summary document are available at www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/animals.

Glenfield Road Animal Shelter improvements

Completed actions:

• Dog beds installed
• In floor heating is operational
• Review and updating of website information
• Review and updating of policies and procedures
• Inductions of volunteers with the view for reinstatement of a strong volunteer program
• CCTV installed
• Completion of internal and external reviews
• A reorganisation of the staffing structure for the animal shelter
• The operations moved under interim management of the Directorate Environment and Community services

Planned actions:

Pending a formal resolution of Council at the 30 May Ordinary Meeting

• Entry landscaping improvements
• Drainage improvements
• Security improvements
• Automatic drinkers
• Dog exercise area (fencing and turf)
• Additional cat cages/exercise pen
• Dog wash facility
• Facility master plan

About Dr Jacob Michelsen

Dr Jacob Michelsen graduated from Sydney University in 1990 and worked in mixed practice for two years before buying his own practice in South West Sydney with his wife and fellow veterinarian.

This practice grew to become a group of practices, with a large number of professional and support staff. In order to manage the group Dr Michelsen undertook a Graduate Certificate in Management in 2000. After 15 years, the practices were sold when Dr Michelsen and his family moved to Denmark for two years.

A surgical residency at Charles Sturt University enticed him back to Australia in 2008 where he established the Small Animal Referral Hospital at Charles Sturt University.

Dr Michelsen moved to Canberra in 2014 to take up a surgical specialty and practice management position at the Animal Referral Hospital Canberra.