The council will consider a report tonight that recommends entering into a five-year agreement with the RSPCA, which has a facility at Rutherford, without calling for tenders.

Entering the agreement would allow the council to close the Kurri Kurri pound, which has come under scrutiny because of a range of issues, including contamination of the site from its former use as a sanitory depot and substandard shelter buildings and kennels. The report said the capital cost to continue to run its own shelter would be at least three times greater than a one-off Facility Access Fee to enter into the Deed of Agreement with the RSPCA.

But Hunter Animal Rescue has raised concerns many Cessnock-based animals taken to the Rutherford RSPCA shelter would be euthanased if they were not bought or reclaimed.

More than 100 animal rescue group volunteers are expected to attend the council meeting tonight.

“Kurri Kurri pound has an extremely low rate of animals being put to sleep – about 10 per cent, which are usually dangerous dogs,” Hunter Animal Rescue president Jaimie Abbott said.

“This low euthanasia rate is because of the passionate and dedicated rangers and a large [number] of rescue groups releasing from the pound.

“This figure will not be maintained under the proposed new scheme and rescue groups will not be able to help save these animals.”

The report to the council meeting ruled out continuing to operate the Kurri Kurri pound, as well as building a new facility.

It nominated the agreement with the RSPCA as the most feasible.

“The animal shelter needs to be closed as soon as possible and the pound operations relocated from the current site for operational needs, animal care and management and occupational health and safety reasons,” it said.