Bandeath Dog Shelter could soon be replaced to provide better accommodation for both staff and animals.
The Stirling Council-run facility at Bandeath Industrial Estate in Throsk has been housing stray dogs and re-homing unclaimed pets from across the Forth Valley for decades.
By law, stray dogs which have been taken to the kennels may be re–claimed by their owners within seven days. After the seventh day, the dog becomes the property of Stirling Council which will attempt to find it a new home.
Now, the council has submitted a planning application seeking to build a brand new replacement shelter near the current site.
The current building is said to have reached the end of its operational lifespan, with high energy costs due 24 hour heating in the kennels, and separate temporary accommodation outwith the shelter for office and staff welfare facilities.
The council had looked at upgrading the existing facilities but it was deemed not to be appropriate or cost-effective.
In documents submitted with the application, agents for the council said: “The proposal endeavours to provide an exemplary welfare facility for dogs and workplace for staff, while showcasing Stirling Council’s approach and commitment to environmentally sensitive development.
“The developable area of site is principally defined by the existing trees to the site’s periphery and the adjacent access road, which calls for a relatively slender building, orientated to align with the tree line and road.
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“The building has been positioned to minimise impact on the existing trees, with the closest proximity being to the west corner.
“The parking and footpaths are set out to minimise conflict with the existing trees, while a vehicle tracking exercise has been undertaken to avoid over developing the site. The extent of hardscaping for vehicles is to be limited to what is required to facilitate vehicular manoeuvres and to meeting the end users parking requirements.
“A number of secondary structures are proposed around the building, these include: a plant enclosure to the north west; rehoming pod to the south east that will serve as an external shelter to introduce and socialise dogs with prospective owners; and external dog cages in the carpark to temporarily house dogs in the event of an emergency.
“The building can be divided into three areas/departments: ‘front of house’ includes a reception area, toilets, office, plant, store and staff welfare; ‘transition zone’ area for new dogs arriving at the shelter, preparing food for the dogs, cleaning the dogs and providing veterinary care; and ‘back of house’ - dog kennels.
“Direct access to each of these areas is provided via a footpath to the building perimeter to ensure that staff and animals can move/be moved around the building with minimum disruption to other users.”
Shelter staff feed and check the dogs daily. Kennel staff are supported by volunteers who walk them, and spend time with dogs who need individual attention. A team of vets visit at least twice a week and the SSPCA has an open invitation to visit the kennels at any time.
Visits by the public to the shelter are by appointment only.
Stray dogs are collected by the council’s dog warden service. If the owner is known, they will return it.
However, up to 700 stray dogs pass through the shelter every year. Approximately half are re-claimed by their owners. Unclaimed dogs are offered for re-homing.
Dogs which cannot be re-homed are given, free of charge, to various animal charities.
The council says dogs are only destroyed on veterinary advice for reasons of welfare or safety and that this accounts for only a small number each year.
Anyone who has lost their dog and wants to check if it has been taken to the shelter, or who wants to report a stray dog, can phone 01786 404040 or alternatively report it to the council online.
