The Ipswich Council’s pound issues have again been thrust into the public space, thanks to some ugly point scoring by a disgruntled councillor and the RSPCA Qld.
Despite the Animal Welfare League having never been charged with even the smallest transgression by the RSPCA, and a investigation into their operations by council being found as ‘inconclusive’, with no welfare charges for them to answer – today the RSPCA Qld and their board member, and Ipswich Councilor Andrew Antonelli are tag-teaming an all out assault on AWL operations;
So if Cr Antoniolli and the RSPCA are going to stick the boot in to the AWL for allegedly not performing, let’s have a look at the three organsations side by side, in a fair fashion, shall we?
| 2009/10 Ipswich Council |
2009/10 RSPCA QLD (state) |
2010/11 Ipswich Council |
2010/11 RSPCA QLD (state) |
Dec 2011 to Aug 2012 AWL QLD (at Ipswich) |
| 3,678 pet intakes | 33,842 pet intakes | 4,894 pet intakes | 35,707 pet intakes | 2,880 pet intakes |
| 1,862 killed (51%) |
15,755 killed (47%) |
2,597 killed (53%) |
16,184 killed (45%) |
1,420 killed (49%) |
*757 pets missing from figures
Basically, what we can see is that having the Animal Welfare League take over the Ipswich Pound wasn’t the ‘magic bullet’ solution that this council had hoped for. There were ongoing operational problems at the pound, and the AWL likely bit off more than they could chew in trying to overhaul this place, with the resources they had available. Decades of neglect, aren’t remedied overnight – especially if Council is dragging their feet, or unwilling to invest in proactive programs.
The figures being used to bash the AWL about the head by Cr Antoniolli in the media and online, are the figures from their first nine months of operation. I’m sure the AWL would have liked to come in, wave a magic wand and have all the health, wellbeing and intake issues solved on the first day they moved in, but the reality is that’s not how it works in practice.
For Cr Antoniolli to now crow that the RSPCA was the answer all along, that they would have had a different result in those first nine months, smacks of small boys and miscreants trying to disrupt what is an already difficult situation to their own advantage. Andrew Antoniolli should be removed from his position, as his conflict of interest and desire to have the RSPCA Qld take over is apparent, and his involvement is damaging to the rebuilding of the Ipswich/AWL relationship.
Similarily, the RSPCA have investigated AWL operations and no action was taken. For them to be now throwing public barbs at the AWL is the ultimate in dirty play. They should be stricken from the list as potential tenderers for this pound, and shunned by the animal lovers for bringing their organisation into disrepute. I’d never say any organisation should be immune from criticism from their fellow animal orgs, however kicking should be done in a fair and reasonable fashion and with the view to improvement – not simply because you can take their contract if you can sling enough mud at them.
And Ipswich Council need to step up, stand behind their decision to re-enstate the AWL and give them the support they need to build their pound into something the community can be proud of.
This ridiculous posturing for cheap political points is harming pets. I for one have hope that Ipswich’s current problems will be just a distasteful memory in near future and that the AWL will be allowed to bring their vision for a safe shelter for pets to Ipswich.
once again the council thinks it is missing out , they must remember the money they get is from the people in the electorate and these people should be the mainstays in the animal welfare issue think of the animals and what is best for them not what is best for the person
The Ipswich Council and Mr Antoinolli have neglected the animals of Ipswich for many years. The pound is extremely outdated and should have been bulldozed many years ago. As for the RSPCA, their rehoming in Brisbane, until their recent move to new premises, was way below par. They may rehome and do the occasional cruelty prosecution, but how do they help financially struggling pet owners that come to them with a sick or injured animals? The short answer is that they don’t! They need to stop believing all their own propaganda and stop bagging the AWLQ who are trying to make a difference. The RSPCA ‘s senior Inspector toured the Ipswich Shelter when the complaints were made (via the news). He found no evidence of neglect or poor conditions. Why wasn’t that the end of it?