Wat Djerring Animal Facility

Julie Williams played a pivotal role in the collaboration between the Darebin, Whittlesea, and Merri-bek City Councils to establish a no-kill shelter for lost and stray animals. This new sanctuary, named the Wat Djerring Animal Facility, provides detailed information on its website.

The Facility will:

• Offer refuge and a new beginning for stray, abandoned, and surrendered animals

• Reunite lost pets with their owners

• Facilitate adoptions by finding new homes for unowned cats and dogs

• Protect animals from cruelty

• Promote pet wellbeing

• Provide pet adoption services

• Educate on responsible pet ownership

• Offer veterinary care to animals at the centre

The facility will only euthanise animals as a last resort when it is deemed the most humane option.

A committee, comprising experienced staff from each council, the Wat Djerring Animal Facility Veterinarian, and Coordinator, has been established. This committee will consider feedback from animal attendants and other relevant staff to determine which unclaimed animals are suitable for rehoming and which are not. The members of this committee possess the expertise and experience to ensure ethical decision-making.

In 2022, Darebin Council made a pivotal decision to enter into a 5-year joint contract to manage animal welfare services at the Epping facility under an in-house model. Over the past year, significant achievements have been made, including the successful rebranding and renaming of the facility to Wat Djerring.

This joint commitment, alongside the Whittlesea and Merri-bek Councils, marked a new chapter for Wat Djerring. With a budget of up to $2.2 million, the aim was to create a facility that truly embodies the spirit of collaboration, care, and community. Over the past year, Wat Djerring has made significant strides in animal welfare. The facility’s name, "Wat Djerring," meaning "we together," reflects our partnership with our partner councils and various not-for-profit and community groups. This partnership model, in alignment with our Domestic Animal Management Plan, has enabled us to care for over 4,200 animals in just one year, providing shelter, veterinary care, and facilitating adoptions.

The facility has successfully found loving homes for 751 animals through its adoption services and significantly reduced euthanasia rates—down to 12.8% for cats and 8.0% for dogs—compared to previous years.

These successes have not come without challenges. Operating at near capacity, the facility has faced higher-than-anticipated costs from direct adoption services, increased animal surrenders, and in-house veterinary care, all contributing to financial strain. We are working with our partner councils to explore future service options that ensure both sustainability and continued excellence in animal welfare.

Wat Djerring, meaning "we together," is more than just a shelter; it truly embodies the spirit of collaboration and serves as a symbol of our community’s compassion and dedication to making a difference in the lives of animals. It is a beacon of hope and compassion for animals in need.

Thank you to everyone involved. Together, we are making a difference, one animal at a time.

While we have made significant strides in reducing euthanasia rates, these accomplishments have come with challenges. The facility has operated at near capacity, and the costs associated with delivering our services have exceeded initial projections. Despite these financial pressures, our commitment to providing high-quality care and responsible animal management remains unwavering. We are already working with our partner councils to explore future service options that ensure both sustainability and continued excellence in animal welfare.