THE majority of an application by Gwydir Park Animal Refuge’s to the Inverell Shire Council for funding to the tune of $20,050 was rejected by the Economic and Community Sustainability Committee at its meeting on Wednesday.
The refuge was granted $2250 for 500 microchips but their application for $17,500 for vaccinations and a further $300 for worming were both rejected.
Inverell Shire Council general manager, Paul Henry, said the refuge does some really good work for council and took a significant number of animals from the Inverell pound last year.
Geoff Johnson is the owner/proprietor of the refuge, which relies heavily on community donations to cover rising costs.
Mr Johnson said the decision was disappointing.
“If council can’t do it then they can’t do it, I didn’t ask them for money, I asked if they could cover the cost of vaccinations,” Mr Johnson said.
“This business costs about $100,000 a year to run and it’s not the dogs we take from the pound it’s dogs we keep from going into the pound that helps Inverell Council,” Mr Johnson said.
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