RSPCA Tasmania Chief Vet says pets left sick, dying whilst in RSPCA care

The RSPCA Tasmania has been in managerial meltdown for more than three years with two CEO’s being sacked by the board (Greg Tredinnick’s in 2009, and Ben Sturges in September) and three other board members standing down this year.

I’ve not commented on the hoo-ha because frankly, I don’t give a fuck. But this week the Mercury reports it has…

… obtained documents which show veterinary staff — including statewide chief vet Gabby Lawson — have reported on a number of occasions what they describe as serious animal welfare issues.
….
Dr Lawson had complained that animals were not being medicated properly and in November wrote that this remained an ongoing issue. The chief vet’s email stated she was “struggling to understand” why a core task was still presenting such a problem.

A sample of the further complaints reveal:

– A KITTEN with cat flu housed in a cage next to healthy kittens.

– AN unvaccinated rabbit with a rotting uterus and mummified foetuses put up for adoption.

– RABBITS left without food or water in the sun.

– A SICK kitten left without heating overnight causing it to die from severe shock and hypothermia.

– A DOZEN cows left without water last summer.

– ID collars excessively tight on kittens that had grown.

– ROOSTERS in filthy pens.

Even more disturbingly, the RSPCA Tasmania’s own animal inspectors felt the treatment that pets were receiving at the facility was so bad, they recommended pets be held somewhere – anywhere – else…

A now-former RSPCA inspector emailed supervisors last year expressing reluctance to seize animals and bring them back to the Launceston shelter as “in its current environment it may affect their health in a detrimental way”.

The inspector referred to “terrible outcomes” such as four previously healthy cats due to be euthanised that day after contracting a disease at the shelter.

It was suggested the best option would be to board animals seized away from the RSPCA’s shelter.

Rampant disease, neglect and cruelty – inflicted on animals not by an uncaring public, but by those people in the ‘animal care’ industry responsible for their protection.

RSPCA Tasmanian president Dr Paul Swiatkowski – who seems to actually be made of teflon – has denied there is a problem.

“The allegations are spurious, scandalous, wrong in fact, defamatory, highly inflammatory.”

While the national RSPCA President remains silent, preferring to instead comment on Red Dog’s passing.

@Lynne_Bradshaw
Just heard sad news about Koko (Red Dog). A true companion and friend to Nelson. More than an actor! #RedDog

Touching.

Please everyone, pay no attention to all the dead and dying animals in RSPCA shelters. Just give generously.