City of Greater Geraldton, Media Release, 5 August 2021
Dogs have who escaped the comfort of their backyard and wound up in the City of Greater Geraldton’s Animal Management Facility (AMF) have overwhelmingly made their way back home as shown by recent statistics.
Of the 1,152 dogs impounded in the 2020/21 financial year, 63% returned to their families while 35% found new forever homes. Sadly 2% of the canines impounded did not meet the rehoming criteria, which included Parvovirus.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said results over the years were positive.
“Over half of the dogs finding their way into the AMF are returning home, which is something we are proud of and want to raise awareness about,” he said.
“Unfortunately some animals are not microchipped or registered. In that instance we work with our partners to get these loving creatures a place to call home – sometimes in Geraldton and other times in Perth or other parts of our state.
“The AMF is a fantastic new facility and our Rangers are all animal lovers. If your dog does end up there it’s in one of the safest places for it to be. Not walking the streets and potentially being harmed.
“These statistics are also a good reminder for dog owners to ensure their backyards are secure so they don’t end up in these figures,” added Mayor Van Styn.
Data from the 2019/20 financial year are similar, with 1,197 dogs impounded and 56% returning to their owner. 41% were rehomed and 3% did not meet the rehoming criteria.
The AMF opened in June 2019 and is a state-of-the-art facility that sits next to Geraldton Dog Rescue’s premises.
All dogs over the age of three months must be microchipped, registered and wear a collar with a registration tag. This allows City Rangers to contact owners should their animal be found outside their home.
For more information about dog ownership and the City’s AMF, please click here.