Moorook Animal Shelter inspected by the RSPCA

Dogs watch reporters at Moorook Animal Shelter (Image ABC Riverland)

In rural locations, community animal refuges tend to end up being run by whomever was passionate enough to see the niche and start to run them. Getting up early every morning and cleaning up dog shit, is not everyone’s idea of fun, so caring for the community’s pets tended to fall to one or two individuals willing to dedicated their properties to companion animals.

Most often, rural animal refuges are an asset to their community – a devoted band of volunteers, saving the ‘unsavable’ and, thanks to the reach of internet advertising, now reaching a whole new market of potential adopters. They might not have the best facilities, and they might not be using killing to make their operations more ‘efficient’. But the pets are absolutely their priority – and the animals are the ones to benefit as they are cared for as individuals, rather than being shipped to mega-pounds and simply becoming another statistic.

Which is why I was so disappointed to hear about the raid on Moorook Animal Shelter last week. Two hours from Adelaide, this animal refuge has been helping the animals of Moorook since 1999. Moorook Animal Shelter had been taking the unclaimed dogs, without any financial compensation, from three Riverland Councils; Waikerie/Loxton, Renmark/Paringa and Berri/Barmera and placing them into new homes. Dogs who would otherwise have been shot with a firearm if unclaimed.

The dogs are by all accounts well cared for. Up until the RSPCA visit, council staff had still been dropping animals at the facility. They are given an adequate diet. They are given treatment and care from a local vet. All dogs on site are wormed, heart wormed and flea treated monthly.

And then, the majority of the dogs are rehomed. They have placed nearly 300 dogs in a short few years. The adoption fee includes vaccinations, microchipping and desexing.

RSPCA seize pets

On the 6th March, the RSPCA SA visted the property, seizing seven dogs and a kitten. The property’s original permit for 37 dogs had been exceeded, with more than 80 dogs on site. Three dogs (Tommy, Bear and Wombles) and the kitten were killed.

Wombles

This elderly dog had lived in a shelter for some time. He was killed because of age-related eye and hearing issues.

 

 

 

 

 
 

Tommy

Was about six years old. He had been blind for about 18 months.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other dog who was killed was Bear. He was an approx 8 year old Red Heeler x who had arthritis, but had been being treated with cartrophen under advice from their vet.

The kitten was an unnamed new arrival, who had cat flu and who had been being treated.

The RSPCA maintain that the animals were all “humanely euthanased as a result of ongoing medical conditions, which were causing continued unmanageable suffering.”

Should these guys have been killed? The kitten had a treatable condition, while the dogs were suffering from age-related complaints. Without the RSPCA releasing vet reports declaring the nature of the other untreatable conditions, the idea that these animals were completely unsavable is implausible. No blind or deaf dog is medically hopeless.

The other dogs currently held at the RSPCA SA include; Gangsta, a great dane x. Had been being treated for the last 3 months for a skin condition. Bindi, a staffy who was being rehabilitated from a traumatic past. Buddy, a sharpei x. And Brandy, a three legged staffy. Their fates are unconfirmed.

The RSPCA returned to the Shelter the following week, and Today Tonight cameras were on site (see video below). They removed no further animals.

According to Moorook, the orders on the shelter are such;

1. All animals must be allowed 30 minutes exercise which can simply mean access to the exercise yards…..done, and they always have had.
2. We must tidy up some enclosures for loose wire and the like, this is simple and only applies to a minority of enclosures
3. All Kennels/pens must have concrete bases to allow for easy cleaning. So not a lot of work it would seem

They will be applying to council to increase the shelter’s approved animal quota and submitting a new development plan. This will included compliance with concrete flooring as directed. A working bee is being arranged (contact Moorook if you are able to help). They also need financial support.

There is no doubt that the animal lovers in South Australia need to step up and step in to help Moorook Animal Shelter. The community will need to help ensure that they are well-resourced and compliant into the future, and with effective adoptions meaning that all animals entering the facility are placed.

To allow councils to return to – the ironically RSPCA approved – program of shooting stray dogs, rather than caring for them, would be an appalling step backwards.

Let’s hope for the pet’s sakes, that a resolution can be reached.