It comes as council considers an online petition with 44,582 signatories demanding higher standards at the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter (GRAS), including more toys and staff with “a genuine passion for animals”. 

Harden piggery opponent Lisa Ryan will travel to Wagga have her say, having taken an interest in the facility since “the half dead kittens were found in freezers”.

“Months ago Wagga pound made headlines for killing someone’s dog by mistake, which should have been a wake up call but they ignored it,” she said.

“The public’s concern is not just how animals are housed, but the rapidly rising rate of killings.

“When volunteers spoke up for the animals they love and care for without payment, council’s reaction was to say ‘you can’t come anymore’.”

Ms Ryan slammed a key finding of an independent report into the shelter, which claimed it had potential to become a “model facility showing the way forward in humane companion animal care”.

Council will decide whether to spend $72,000 on the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter (GRAS), to be partly funded from the sale of abandoned shopping trolleys and and impounded vehicles.

The expansion will include $18,000 worth of in-floor heating, a $13,500 dog exercise area and $12,000 worth of automatic drinkers.

Mayor Rod Kendall said council had addressed substantial issues with the facility, since reports surfaced of cats dumped in freezers and left to die and confusion surrounding how many animals were under rangers’ care.

“We have absolutely committed to making sure we get this right,” Cr Kendall said.

“Council has already corrected substantial issues and now we need to make sure those issues don’t occur again.

“Volunteers will play an important part ensuring the care and operation of the centre is as good as it can be.”

Rally organiser Brendan Wardle hoped there was “no shouting or ruckus” inside council chambers.

“We have made posters for the protesters to hold over their heads,” Mr Wardle said.

“If the mayor asks them to take the posters down and leave the meeting, I hope they are mature enough to exit without making a scene.

“We are expecting 100 people to turn out at the rally, as we have had a lot of interest from people in outlying areas, not just Wagga residents.”

Member of the NSW Legislative Council Mark Pearson will speak at the demonstration, to be staged on the steps of council chambers from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.