Ambarvale school teacher Biancka Novak regularly visits the pound with her two children.

Mrs Novak says the pound caters well for the animals but that resource constraints have become a problem.

``During the winter many dogs have to sleep on a wet concrete floor,'' she said.

``The kennels are clean but during the colder months the floor takes longer to dry after each hose-down. Some of the dogs shiver.''

The pound is a council initiative, which precludes money donations but permits and encourages gifts of food, blankets and towels.

And if you want a pet, take a look in the pound. All animals are microchipped, vaccinated, registered and usually desexed.

Mrs Novak adopted a five-year-old schitzu two years ago and said he had been a blessing to her family.

``When I brought Bobby home he would beg all the time,'' she said.

``It was so amusing to see that someone had already taught him how to beg.

``He's just great.''

Mrs Novak said that people who were unsure of how a new addition would fit into the family could take their existing pet to the pound to match with their new pet.

``When we decided to adopt a dog from the pound, we took our 12 year-old labrador with us to make sure there wouldn't be any conflict and they got along,'' she said.

``Before you buy a pet, you really should consider rescuing one from the pound first.

``All the dogs there have these amazing characters. They are just wonderful.''