The RSPCA announced in June its decision to close the shelter and relocate all animals to Bendigo. 

Long-term Castlemaine resident Katherine Seppings said she feared the closure would result in more animals suffering and more strain on other animal welfare services.

“If something happened to an animal here, who is going to take it up to Bendigo?,” she said. “The best situation is to have something close by.”

Outraged by the RSPCA’s decision, she launched a change.org petition on Sunday, appealing for the shelter to remain open. Within 24 hours, 2200 people had signed it.

“I’m not surprised to see so many people responding to it,” Ms Seppings said. “The animals will suffer because of this decision.”

RSPCA Victoria acting chief operating officer Tegan McPherson said on Monday maintaining two RSPCA animal care centres within a 45-minute drive of each other was no longer financially sustainable.

“We were fortunate to have had lengthy and generous support from the Castlemaine community, including contributing to the start-up funds required to buy and develop the land and facilities at the Castlemaine animal care centre,” she said.

“However, these generously donated local funds have never been enough to cover the cost of operating the centre – which RSPCA Victoria has been significantly subsidising since the centre’s opening.”

The RSPCA has provided a pound service to the Castlemaine area for 13 years and a spokesperson from the Mount Alexander Shire said a number of rapid response protocols would be put in place when the shelter closed.

Ms Seppings questioned what would happen to the shelter, which was built by funds raised within the community and a trust fund created in the memory of Pamela Waters.

Ms McPherson said no decision had been made about the future of the property but the RSPCA would ensure ongoing access to memorials at the site.

She said the organisation was also working with the shelter’s nine staff members and other volunteers regarding the transition to ensure they were supported.

The petition can be found at: www.change.org/p/rspca-victoria-keep-rspca-castlemaine-animal-shelter-open