Today Lort Smith welcomed a visit by Minister for Agriculture, Mary-Anne Thomas to the iconic organisation’s animal hospital in North Melbourne for an announcement Lort Smith claims is excellent news for organisations such as theirs who are caring and rehoming animals across Victoria.
Lort Smith Head of Hospital, Dr David Cunliffe said, “We are very appreciative of the Minister’s announcement of $50,000 to Lort Smith as part of the government grants that support not-for-profit organisations to rehome dogs and cats, as well as community vet clinics to establish or expand their services in areas of need throughout Victoria.”
As the largest and busiest not-for-profit animal hospital in Australia Lort Smith has been a Melbourne institution serving the community for 85 years. The organisation is reliant on donations from the community and the pay it forward approach of full fee paying clients of our animal hospital.
Dr Cunliffe said, “We would also congratulate the Minister on the announcement today of a taskforce dedicated to better supporting the rehoming of Victorian dogs and cats.
“We understand the Taskforce on Rehoming Pets will provide recommendations to government on how to improve and better support the rehoming of pets in Victoria, including dogs and cats used in research, while maintaining community safety,” he said.
The Taskforce is to investigate regulatory options to improve the welfare and survival rates of dogs and cats requiring rehoming, as well as ways to increase transparency in the movement of animals between shelters, pounds and rescue groups.
Lort Smith was pleased to have three of the members of the Taskforce join the Minister today – Mr Andy Meddick (Taskforce Chairman, Animal Justice Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council), Ms Maree Edwards (Member for Bendigo West, Deputy Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly), and Mr Gary Maas (Member for Narre Warren South) – in a tour of the animal hospital.
Dr Cunliffe said, “Lort Smith was a successful recipient of a previous Animal Welfare Grant, receiving $150,000 to go towards the establishment of our new Lort Smith Animal Hospital – Campbellfield Centre.
“Lort Smith Animal Hospital – Campbellfield Centre is set for completion later this year, the new facility will provide affordable veterinary services including desexing, improved adoption centre facilities, more support for pet carers in crisis and help to reduce pet surrenders through behavioural support.
“Victorian Government grants such as those announced today will give us greater capacity to fulfil our mission of maintaining the human-animal bond by providing high-quality, affordable vet care to those in the middle and outer suburbs of Melbourne’s north, north-east and north-west,” he said.
Although the building is underway at Campbellfield, Lort Smith is still in need of further donations to reach their ambitious fundraising goal of $20 million for redevelopment of Lort Smith Animal Hospital – North Melbourne and Lort Smith Animal Hospital – Campbellfield Centre.