RSPCA Noosa closes, Councils partner to help lost pets

Following RSPCA Queensland’s decision to close its Noosa animal shelter, lost pets will now be taken to the Sippy Creek Animal Pound in Tanawha.

The Noosaville RSPCA site was vacated on Friday 16 May and has discontinued providing Noosa Council’s pound service.

Noosa Council Mayor Frank Wilkie said the new partnership with Sunshine Coast Council was a great example of neighbouring councils working together to share resources.

“We’re fortunate to have a community of very responsible pet owners so our Local Laws staff only handle a very small number of lost cats and dogs each month,” Mayor Wilkie said.

“But for those we do pick up, where their owners can’t be immediately reached, they can rest assured their pets will receive first-class care through this new partnership,” he said.

Noosa Council acting property manager Hayley Jamieson said Sunshine Coast Council has the systems in place to meet the strict standards required to operate a pound.

“And by partnering with our neighbours, we spare our ratepayers the significant cost of establishing and running our own facility to manage just four or five animals impounded monthly,” she said.

Noosa Council’s Local Laws officers will only take lost animals to the Sippy Creek Animal Pound if they are unable to contact the animal’s owner.

Ms Jamieson said the partnership gave Noosa Council access to a range of additional animal management services, including access to livestock holding yards and associated facilities and equipment.

Sunshine Coast Council’s Service Excellence portfolio councillor Christian Dickson said with the closure of RSPCA Queensland’s Noosa facility, Sunshine Coast Council was happy to take over the responsibility.

“It’s a testament to the people of Noosa for being responsible pet owners that a pound facility isn’t warranted in their region,” Cr Dickson said.

“Sunshine Coast residents should also be acknowledged for taking such good care of their animals that our pound has room for the neighbouring Council’s lost animals.

“The team at Sunshine Coast Council’s Sippy Creek Animal Pound in Tanawha is committed to delivering exceptional care to all surrendered and abandoned pets from across the whole region.

“Our modern facility with 32 individual cat enclosures and 32 dog kennels, reunited 380 lost animals with their owners in 2024 and helped 632 animals find their forever homes.

“Since Sunshine Coast Council’s Pet Partner Program was established in 2017 with not-for-profit animal shelters, we have successfully rehomed more than 6000 lost and surrendered animals.

“Through our strong, working relationships with these local, community-run, animal shelters and organisations, the team at our Sippy Creek Animal Pound will continue to provide complete support for all animals in their care.”

To report a lost or roaming animal in Noosa, please contact Noosa Council on (07) 5329 6500.

The Sippy Creek Animal Pound is located at 48 Sippy Creek Road, Tanawha, and can be contacted on (07) 5439 8000.

Visit Sunshine Coast Council’s website and search “animal pound” for more information.