With just days left for residents to have a say on a proposed new animal care facility at Mardi, Central Coast resident Alana Hillman has started an online petition to save Erina pound.
Last year Central Coast Council developed a concept design for the Mardi facility, which will replace ageing facilities at Erina and Charmhaven, with 98 comments and 353 reactions received during the exhibition period from February 18-March 13, 2023, and 94 per cent in support of its key features.
But Hillman says the closure of Erina pound will result in longer travel times for those who find stray dogs, particularly for residents on the southern end of the Coast.
“If someone has found a dog, cannot get into contact with the owner and cannot contain the dog, they will have to drive to Mardi, which is 20-30 minutes away from Erina pound,” her petition says.
“Therefore, a lot of people will be reluctant to travel the extra time and take found dogs to the new facility, particularly if they are located on the southern end of the Coast.
“It is a big ask for those on the southern end of the Coast to drive all the way to Mardi for an animal that is not theirs.
“A majority of people just simply do not have the time nor ability to do so.
“By not having a nearby pound, those who are unable to keep a found dog may be forced to let the dog go to continue to roam the street, putting the dog at risk of being injured or worse, and potentially putting individuals and pets within the community at risk.”
The petition calls for Erina pound to remain open as a holding facility for found dogs.
“This will allow people in the community to have a place to put found dogs regardless of the time of day, keeping the dogs safe and giving them the best chance at being reunited with their owners,” the petition says.
“This facility may not operate as a pound (taking surrenders, rehoming dogs and cats), but simply a place to put found/stray dogs (particularly after hours) and be a holding facility for dogs that will then be transferred to the Mardi facility after 24 hours or so.”
The petition can be accessed at https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-closure-of-erina-pound
Residents can have their say on the proposed facility until January 23 on the Council website.
We need, need two facility’s on the coast
Both Erina and Charmhaven are easily accessible
One large facility would impact. Severely on already stressed animals
Wouldn’t it be easier to upgrade both Erina and Charmhaven
Erina is conveniently located for residents of the the southern part of the Central Coast . We need a location that will encourage and help our community to do the best we can for our animals- many will not have the time or motivation to take lost animals or animals in need of care to Mardi. This willl negatively impact animal welfare. Central Coast cannot rely on rangers to fill this gap – they don’t work after hours ( when animals are often found and require the safety of night cages at the pound) and the rangers are already stretched. Further, for families looking to adopt – the drive to Mardi may discourage this. Please maintain a satellite pound on southern portion of central coast
Fully agree. We are lucky that people are willing enough to look after lost dogs and take them to the nearby Pound.
Mardi is quite a distance away, and plenty of these lost pets need our help.
I have donated many things to the Charmhaven pound and also taken strays there. I am an old age pensioner and now do not have a car. I have more things to donate as O have just euthanased my dog. Charmhaven is convenient. what is wrong with that pound?
Please keep Erina animal refuge open due to the enormous numbers of abandoned and abused animals these days. To give these animals best chance of rehoming it’s imperative Good Samaritans are not required to travel great distances to surrender the animal to the pound.
We need an animal facility for the Central Coast that’s right. You have to go to travel to if you find a stray dog or cat. Please don’t take away our animal shelter it’s needed and respected on the Central Coast.
animals have the right to get a chance , there should more like this so families can get there pets back safely.
Please save this wonderful safe haven for the lost and unwanted ,
Please keep both Erina and Charmhaven pound. We need to care and protect animals.
We need one at Erina some people can not make the long drive to the other side of the coast
All Animals deserve a second chance in a civilised society
Please have compassion and mercy
please we need this facility to stay!
The animals on the Central Coast are in enough trouble without removing yet another valuable resource!
We need to have more facilities not less and this will add another 20 mins drive for myself alone should I need to go there. Please keep both the Erina one and upgrade it while also opening the new one which will give more animals a fighting chance of proper care and a new life
please leave things as they are, there is absolutely no need to make changes!
so many animals will suffer if this goes ahead! Use common sense for a change, and leave well enough alone!
We need a new pound with modern facilities, so many people promote taking a lost dog to sash at Tuggerah yer Mardi is too far? Erina & Charmhaven pounds both need long overdue upgrades to their facilities and the peninsula needs a pound or at very least holding place for lost/abandoned dogs. .
We need an Animal shelter here in Erina. Imagine the amount of strays/dumped pets if we didn’t?.Dont take away the pound.
Need both pounds should definitely upgrade Erina one wish we still had the one in Sommersby also!
Please don’t shut this important facility, we need more amenities, not less to house defenseless animals that are lost or waiting for a new home. Erina is an excellent central location.
Keeping this facility at Erina is important to the community.
The community needs the Erina animal care facility to operate to ensure that there is a safe place for any stray or surrendered pets, and we would easily run out of space within the facility if Erina and charmhaven are closed and only Mardi is left. We need Erina to stay open
Good job Alana this world needs more ppl like u in it xx save the old Erina pound .