Ipswich Council comments on AWL suspension

The form letter going out from an Ipswich Councillor to concerned residents;

“I appreciate your concerns and myself and Council have always acted in the best interests of animal welfare. But to ignore and not investigate complaints and concerns raised would not be in the interests of the animals we want to protect and the people who work there. We are focusing on the welfare of animals and latest advice from the Department head within Council is that “the decision to suspend the AWLQ from the Ipswich Pound was not taken lightly and was only reached after careful consideration of a number of serious animal welfare allegations and related breaches brought to Council’s attention by an employee, volunteers and supporters of the AWL. No one at Council has pre-judged the AWL and the principles of natural justice will be extended to ensure that the AWL has every opportunity to respond to the claims made against them. In this regard Council’s Chief Executive Officer has appointed Internal Audit to conduct an independent inquiry and report in respect of the claims made. Council has further made arrangements for the RSPCA to provide interim pound management and animal welfare services during the suspension period, to ensure the protection, welfare and care of lost and/or unwanted animals presented to the Ipswich Pound. The care and welfare of the animals is our highest priority”. I hope this helps to reassure you that we are working in the best interests of everyone concerned.”
C r David Pahlke

 

Let’s just review. ‘Council have always acted in the best interests of animal welfare’. If you believe that a pound with a 90% kill rate and a rehoming rate of practically NIL is a bastion of animal welfare, then certainly Ipswich has a long history kill-caring! But if you, like pretty much all of the pet lovers in Ipswich, believe that pets are better off alive, then dead, then this claim is dubious at best.

‘Council’s Chief Executive Officer has appointed Internal Audit to conduct an independent inquiry and report in respect of the claims made.’ The RSPCA have been on-site and no action was taken. If animal welfare was compromised, surely they would have pressed further? Or launched their own investigation of the claims of the ex-volunteers? An internal audit, conducted by the same Council who seems to have already made up its mind that it wants the AWL out the door, does little to allay the concerns of residents. Especially, when this same Council has a history of its own of failing to protect pets.

‘Council has further made arrangements for the RSPCA to provide interim pound management and animal welfare services during the suspension period, to ensure the protection, welfare and care of lost and/or unwanted animals presented to the Ipswich Pound.’ So now we have the organisation responsible for enforcing animal welfare, who hasn’t taken any formal action against the AWL, stepping in to support Council while they conduct their own ‘internal audit’ on those same animal welfare abuse claims. WFT?

It’s also worth noting, Councillor Andrew Antoniolli, the one giving comment in the original ABC video clip, is a board member of the RSPCA QLD.

‘I hope this helps to reassure you that we are working in the best interests of everyone concerned.’ How reassured can we possibly be? A Council who up until a short 18 months ago supported killing practically everything that walked through their doors – investigating an animal welfare organisation whom has not so much been charged with a single wrong-doing, while the competitor organisation takes over the site and starts measuring up the curtains, but remains mum on any actual, evidenced issues as the animal welfare enforcement entity.

*whistles* all seems completely legit.