THIS is what a new home for the city’s stray dogs could look like.

A report has been submitted to build a new animal rescue centre on land in Hangleton Bottom in Brighton.

The report will be considered by councillors on Tuesday and discusses a proposal to build and provide an animal welfare facility.

The Environmental Protection Act says that local authorities have a duty of care towards stray dogs.

This service is currently provided by two in-house animal wardens who look after 200 dogs per year, using private kennels near Crawley as well as an out of hour’s service in Hailsham.

The council’s current out of hours cover proved difficult because staff found it tough to fit the extra duties in.

The committee’s report says: “We first tried using the council’s emergency out of hour’s officers plus a private kennel provider in Newhaven.

“This did not work, due to the officers finding it difficult to fit this work around other existing duties.

“Also, the contractual relationship with our private kennel provider proved difficult.”

The RSPCA and Dogs Trust were also contacted but were unable to provide the service.

Currently, customers have to wait until an animal warden is available to travel to Crawley or Hailsham, both of which are an hour and a half round trip.

The report says a kennel manager role will be created, as well as four full-time positions.

Volunteering opportunities will also be created, in order to support the full-time workers.

It is thought that the new plans will reduce reliance on private contractors as any future price rise could lead to pressures on the council’s budget.

The kennel itself will be cost neutral for the council and it will pay for itself by hiring it out to the police and other councils for use.

The aim of the venture is to deliver the necessary stray dog service much more effectively while generating an income to support the services.

It is hoped that the facility will house 14 kennels and a cattery of 25 units as well as office spaces for the animal warden and pest control team.

A council spokesperson said: “The kennels we use are a considerable distance from the city.

“This results in a significant amount of travelling for the animal wardens.

“These kennels were the only ones to bid for the holding kennel contracts the last time they were renewed.

“A facility in the city will significantly reduce this by ten hours a week or 520 hours a year.”