The Sapphire Coast branch of the RSPCA is facing possible closure to due lack of volunteers.
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The branch's struggles have resulted in the cancellation of this year's fundraising Million Paws Walk, scheduled for May, and a halt on taking in surrendered and rescued cats to rehome.
A spokesperson for RSPCA NSW said they were hopeful more volunteers coming forward could see the branch turning those decisions around. However the future was looking bleak.
"Volunteer numbers have played a part in the scale back - we are scaling back from taking on cats to focus efforts towards reorganising the direction of the branch," the spokesperson said.
"The branch will still assist with emergency cases and can provide the public with information about RSPCA NSW.
"If people are looking to adopt, the Eurobodalla RSPCA branch has cats available year round," they said.
President of the Far South Coast branch of the Animal Welfare League Kerri Brady said the closure of the RSPCA branch would bring with it pressure for the AWL to take on cats, however they were still to sort out the logistics.
"This is not good news," Ms Brady said.
The arrangement has been that the AWL took dogs and puppies into its care and the RSPCA looked after cats and kittens. Both organisations then sought out suitable new homes for the companion animals.
"Before the RSPCA came to the Far South Coast we used to take on cats as well as dogs. It lifted the burden when the RSPCA were able to take on cats and up until now it has worked really well," Ms Brady said.
The AWL does not have an established shelter and dogs are taken into care in volunteers' private homes.
Ms Brady said there was a waiting list of dogs waiting to go into care homes and with the situation as it is they don't have enough carers to share the load.
"Now it will come back around for us to do both, which will increase the load for our welfare officer and the need for more carers."
Ms Brady said there were a number of reasons animals were surrendered into care and more carers are always needed all year round.
"If the RSPCA does fold then we will need to find even more carers," she said.
If you're interested in volunteering, as a branch member or a carer, call RSPCA Volunteer Manager Max on 9782 4445, and Animal Welfare League Far South Coast on 0400 372 609.
