Key animal protection group the RSPCA will step away from managing Dubbo’s pound.

Dubbo City Council will resume management of the city’s animal shelter after a public tender process for the contract yielded no interest.

The RSPCA did not seek to renew its contract held since 2005, and yesterday confirmed it was moving into a “new phase of our animal care strategy”.

The organisation renowned for protecting “all creatures great and small” reported plans to maintain a presence in the city, but did not rule out job losses if it could not “transition” its remaining employees at the Dubbo shelter.

The RSPCA’s contract to run the council-owned facility is due to expire on June 30 and the two organisations are in discussions to make interim arrangements. 

RSPCA animal care services executive manager Brendon Neilly said the new phase was part of being efficient and looking at how it could best serve the local community with the resources it had.

“We will be focusing on our work with our branch and (pet shop) Petbarn, which is re-homing animals for us, so we can continue to support animal welfare in Dubbo without running the pound services for the council,” he said.

The new model will involve the recruitment of a mobile officer who will help with animal transfers and works with the local branch and Petbarn.

It had been operating in Tamworth for more than 12 months, Mr Neilly said.

Some RSPCA staff at the Dubbo shelter had found other employment and the organisation was working to assist remaining permanent staff, he said.

Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson said the RSPCA advised that it would not be seeking to renew the contract to manage the animal shelter because it was not in the best interests of the society. 

The council has allocated $330,000 in the draft budget for 2014-2015 for management, essentially the amount that was the original provision for the RSPCA contract, plus an extra sum held as a contingency.

“A city the size of Dubbo is unable to meet legislative requirements under the Companion Animals Act and Impounding Act without a shelter,” Cr Dickerson said.

“The RSPCA have supported council by agreeing to continue management until approximately the end of 2014.”

The mayor reported there was still some preparatory work to do.

“The specific details regarding operations at the Dubbo City Animal Shelter including staff numbers, operating hours, standard of care and use of volunteers will be determined through a review of the relevant guidelines and consultation with the Companion Animals Advisory Committee,” Cr Dickerson. 

He also reported the RSPCA had indicated it remained committed to providing services in the Dubbo area.

“The RSPCA has strong branch and volunteer membership in Dubbo and it is hoped the organisation will continue to maintain a strong presence in the city to re-home and facilitate the fostering of animals,” he said.

It is expected the council will resume management of the animal shelter, located on Boothenba Road, by 2015.