The following is an email, recently received from a pet lover. I have removed names for privacy…
Dear Saving Pets,
I wanted to share Thomas’ story with you to hopefully make a difference and save other dogs like him.
My mother and I were foster carers for the RSPCA Yagoona shelter in Sydney. We had taken in three puppies who had found new homes, and we were very happy with the system. Then, in May this year, we got Thomas.
Thomas was the sweetest dog yet. A white Coolie puppy about 6 months old. He was blind, partially deaf, and had a broken leg (the reason we were caring for him). Our instructions were to keep him still while he recovered from the break. We could crate train him to make sure he was always still and do behavour training to keep him calm, but the main purpose was to let his leg heal.
We did as we were asked and grew to love the puppy. He sometimes cried when we left him (as all puppies do) and we found he was slow to detach from us as we were a guide in his limited sensory world. He liked when we were around making noise so he could orientate himself. After one month, he was allowed to move around more and to our delight he began exploring the house on his own. He would go into our bedrooms when we turned our backs to explore.
Then he had to have an x-ray. We took him back to the RSPCA thinking it would be a physical check-up then maybe a few more weeks in our care as his leg was much better. We were looking forward to walking him as coolies are sheep dogs and he had so much energy, keeping him still was taking its toll on him and us. It was clear he just wanted to run.
We left him at the shelter to see the vet.
The next day we got a phone call. Thomas had been diagnosed with separation anxiety and was going to be put down.
We were shocked. The RSPCA told us he was always being watched for this disorder, and since he cries when we leave and cried in the shelter he clearly had it. We said we never knew he was being watched for this. When we went through his paperwork there was no mention of it.
We told them he was gaining independence. He needed time. He hadn’t lived without a broken leg, you couldn’t tell his temperament until you let him run. Let him release his energy and be a normal dog. We asked for one more week to help rehabilitate this. We told him he was confident in our home, why couldn’t we adopt him? If he’s anxious being away from our house, why not just let him have a happy life in our house? If their only option is to kill, then we’ll take him.
They said they’d call us back.
The next day they called and said the decision was still final. We pleaded with them for over an hour to see sense. They kept saying this was a last resort they were sad to take, except every other option we offered was rebutted. We could think of dozens of other options, but they ignored us. They had spent months rehabilitating him for a broken leg and not one day rehabilitating him for his supposed separation anxiety.
The biggest shock was next.
We called back later and spoke to an assistant in the hopes we could speak to someone higher up and save Thomas. She told us Thomas had been killed earlier that day. The last time on the phone, as we begged for his life, he was already dead. The RSPCA never told us, they pretended he was still alive as we tried to bargain to save him.
This is not the prevention of cruelty. This is cruelty. This dog could have had a life with us, but they refused him life. They preferred to kill him than to allow any other intervention. It is clear to me that the RSPCA does not take death as a last resort, but as a first resort.
We will never foster care for them again. We are in grief for the lost puppy who was never given a chance and I fear for any dog in that “shelter” now.
Thanks for reading my story. I wanted to share it with you so that maybe the puppy I loved and lost will have some voice in this world. I’ve attached photos of Thomas from the time he lived with us.
{Name removed}
Are you kidding me? Those sickos at the RSPCA are disgusting . My puppies all had “separation anxiety” but they got over it as they got older . Is that’s seriously a reason to kill a dog???? I have never thought it was a problem aside from some crying when I leave. That’s not dangerous, that’s not even a worry of mine. How could they kill a puppy over that?!? They’re awful “people”. God bless that poor dog.
Shame on you RSPCA I have not trusted them for years and this only proves I am right.
The only animals that are safe at the RSPCA are the fatCATs that run that organization.
LET’S GIVE THE RSPCA SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!!!
Report this case directly to the RSPCA as a case of ANIMAL CRUELTY!
http://www.rspcansw.org.au/services/inspectorate/report_a_cruelty_case
You will have to fudge a lot of the answers (as I did) but make sure you add the URL for this page somewhere:
http://www.savingpets.com.au/2013/07/thomas/
It happened at:
RSPCA Sydney – Yagoona Shelter
201 Rookwood Road
Yagoona, NSW, 2199
I hear horror stories all the time about shelters and the RSPCA killing animals when it is not necessary. I have spoken with many individuals who have faught to try and save an animal but the shelter or the RSPCA, SPCA makes a decision to put the animal down whether than give it a chance at a real life without being abused. What is wrong with these people. I do not trust any of them any longer. I no longer give to any of them. Shame on the RSPCA for killing an innocent dog that had a family that really wanted him. I am truly sorry for that family.
Tina I agree with you all the way girl.
How dare they !…who the hell are these clowns to play God !….Thomas was a beautiful little guy….and the reason they kept rebutting your suggestions is they had already killed him!…????I hate the RSPCA with a passion I live in the far north east of Scotland andmy son found a baby seal who had lost its mother…do you know what they told him to do? They told him to take it somewhere and leave it or if he could perhaps put it out it’s misery himself!!..he was 15 ! They told him it would die anyway…we took the baby seal to a rehab Center for seals nearby and it was released as an adult to the sea as a healthy little lady!! I took them to task about this but as usual they always squirm there way out of it!!…..they are supposed to help animals !!…how did this help poor Thomas…..I have a little yorkie of 13 years of age now ….and he has separation anxiety…..it can be controlled…..he could have been helped in your loving care…..I’m so so sorry you lost your beautiful wee Thomas may he rest in peace…….at least he will never
have to meet anyone bad or cruel like them ever again…..and you will be with him again one day…..he will not forget who was good to him……I’m sorry for the way he was treated by those eejits….I wouldn’t let
them look after a gnat !!….I will be signing and passing this on.
Ann xxx
Very sinful.
This is a crime obviously.
I cry for this tiny poor puppy.
You cannot trust anyone these days even organizations that you think will help! It is all so sad and unnecessary – all I can say is people suck who have some sort of control and want to use it. Karma will get them!
I don`t support th RSPCA. tHEY ONLY DO GOOD THINGS FOR ANIMALS WHEN TV CAMERAS ARE AROUND. on a couple of occassions we had birds of all sorts trapped behind our gas fires in our flats and when we called them out , they told us in no uncertain terms to call out the national grid. My aunt also came across a jackdaw with a broken wing, she took it to the rspca and they told her that in the wild , the jackdaw wouldn`t survive. well she took it home and put an old sleeve around it, and to our surprise the bird literally pulled its wing off, and you know that Jackdaw is still alive and thriving in a big cage. 4 years later and is still doing well. Sorry but no confidence in rspca anywhere
Here in the uk they are always on tv trying to raise funds when down south London way they open multi million pound buildings.
The R.S.P.C.A have always been a heartless bunch. I have heard so many stories about them putting down pets. What right do they have to kill a pet especially one that had a family wanting to have him.
The R.S.P.C.A. should be run by pet lovers not by a bunch of unfeeling ‘people’ who work there so they can collect a salary.
After all what can one expect from the R.S.P.C.A, when they have legitimized the Pet industry Ass. of Australia and accepted that they sell pets in their retail shops.
http://www.savingpets.com.au/2012/03/the-rspca-puppy-farmers-get-cozy/
The rspca is helped by goverment help, so why aren’t they looking into this they aren’t doing there job. Get the media papers, tv coverage involved. They are a charity that is supposed to help the animals in there care, .
Forwarded to the local ABC for follow up.
I stumbled across this article by accident as was taken by how one sided and emotional this is. The RSPCA have not had a chance to give their side of the story and here all who comment here take this persons word as gospel and in one fowl swoop condemn the RSPCA from here to smithereens.
I can only shake my head in disbelief. There are always two sides to the story and although the RSPCA is not an angel who saves every stray dog there sometimes are cases of humane euthanasia’s. I am not sure why Thomas was euthanised but I find it hard to believe that an organisation will spend so much time, effort and expertise to have his broken limb repaired. Here already the RSPCA is showing their intend by their willingness to re-home a young dog after repairing his limb. As to why and how it was broken (apparently inside the shelter …. this in itself is strange as shelters are by design not build to have dogs break their limbs in) is still open to discussion.
I find it hard to believe Thomas was euthanised because he showed separation anxiety which the RSPCA is familiar with and is a condition which can be overcome as the author has stated. Separation anxiety I would even expect from a dog which has been in a shelter, had his limb broken and then located with carers only to return to the original site where it all started. I would find it very natural for a dog to show this behaviour within the first 1 to 24 hours of his stay or even longer. Everyone who worked in a shelter knows this.
Why would an organisation spend hundreds of dollars and endless time and effort to repair a broken limb with an extended recovery period with a carer only to have hime euthanised on his first recheck? I don’t buy into this and find this very hard to believe.
The reason I am saying this is because I am a veterinarian with many years experience. I have repaired hundreds of broken bones so can claim that I know what I talk about. Looking at the pictures I find it strange for Thomas to wear an E-collar with no evident lesion on his body for which the E-collar is needed to prevent self inflicting damage. So here I start to distrust the author. His forearm seems to have had a shave recently (weeks) but it does not look as if a fresh plaster or dressing was removed so I again do not understand why there would have been a final re-check weeks after the coaptation device was removed. I doesn’t make sense.
I have worked in close liaison with the AWL, RSPCA and countless otter organisations here in NSW. They all strive to better the life of abandoned and unwanted animals and do so in their best of their abilities. The people all mostly volunteers and mostly rely on public funding. I will continue to support these organisations in my profession with contributing my time, expertise and efforts towards these goals as the overall results by these organisations are to be commended on. They do make a difference and so by the way – no one is perfect so before you judge you should evaluate the overall result.
Humane euthanasia is sometimes (regretfully) needed. Period.
I cannot comment on Thomas’s real reason for euthanasia but am reluctant to jump to conclusions. I find it sad that the people here on the forum are so judgemental and prejudiced. I also take it that all readers here all vegetarians who wholeheartedly reject ‘killings’ of animals of any kind i.e. slaughter of cattle, sheep and pigs in order to feed us. Those who are not vegetarians and think that ‘killing’ a dog is inhumane should re-evaluate their perceptions, judgements and comments.
But that is another subject altogether.
where are the bosses of the rspca, the founders, the higher ups, the suits, where is all the money going to if the rspca is doing this….who is the vet that saids crap…how much is he being paid…what kind of house does he live in… a investigation of each person and the vets from the suits down to the person who cleans out the cages….to many question….to many lifes ending….to much sadness….and its time that this so called RSPCA…..be shut down..
This is just pure EVIL. The people running this organisation from the top down should be seen as collaborators, assisting in the unnecessary killing of animals for no reason other than the fact they are “animals”. Anyone who is complicate in passing on false information to this family concerning the dog’s welfare is equally guilty of unconscionable cruelty. As long as we allow this organisation and others like it to continue it WILL continue. Until we are angry enough to stand up for those who are unable to speak for themselves and are prepared to count the cost, because it will cost, we dare not hope for the killing to stop.
This is absolute garbage. Separation anxiety??? That is a reason to murder a dog now??
I run a cat rescue and I am lucky if I get $100 in donations A YEAR. And these piece of crap garbage ***holes get millions?
This is one of the saddest stories I’ve read. The RSPCA should not be in the business they are in. I am so so sorry to hear of your loss of Thomas. He was a beautiful puppy who obviously got along with your other dogs! JUSTICE FOR THOMAS!!!
Forgot to add website.
Disgusting. What did they expect. With all the love and care you had given him of course he was going to pine for you. Some of the dogs I have fostered for AWDRI I am sure would have been PTS by the RSPCA but with love and time they have gone to wonderful caring families. I for one will never support the RSPCA again. One of the things I love about the independent foster groups is their NO-euthanise policies.
I am so angry right now, and in disbelief, but before I let loose I want to hear. What does the RSPCA have to say about this? I went to their site.
http://www.rspcansw.org.au/nested_content/footer/media_releases which has contact information
I emailed Lukas Picton, RSPCA NSW Media Liaison on [email protected]
I am so angry right now, and in disbelief, but before I let loose I want to hear. What does the RSPCA have to say about this?
I went to their site (above)
I emailed Lukas Picton, RSPCA NSW Media Liaison on [email protected]
I work for a true NO KILL rescue. This is a disgusting murder of a healthy dog. They need better regulations about their screening process. I have 2 dogs that suffer from the same anxiety. I have worked with them to build their confidence and one of them is taking a low dose of Prozac to help with his severe issues. Both my dogs are wonderful, loving, companions. This is so unfair. My heart goes out to you. I agree with Wendi…don’t give up fostering, just find a TRUE NO KILL rescue group to work with. The dogs need people like you.
This is disgusting. I’d be willing to be that SOMEONE screwed up and put the wrong dog down and it happened to be Thomas. They covered it up by telling everyone he had “anxiety” issues. The people at the RSPCA should be help accountable for this pups life. I would get legal counsil so that they will take presidence over their CRUEL actions…..SHAME ON YOU RSPCA. Your supposed to HELP the animals, not kill them. Very disgusted at you heartless people.
So not right!!!! We fostered a 3 month old black lab
who was recovering from a car accident. He had his left front leg removed
at shoulder and 9 pins in is right leg. You are right it was a long a.d hard recovery.
For Henri and us. That was almost 10 years ago and Henri is still woth us a.d our 2 other labs a poodle and 8 cats!
They call themselves animal lovers!!!!! omg this is a disgrace :-(((
RSPCA must be run by scum bags. maybe they should be put down, and the animals set free.
This is horrible. This Shelter needs to be reported so it can be Investigated! Shelters are begging for foster homes for animals and this happens! So sorry !
This is so sad & heartbreaking, but it also makes me angry! I’ve always given to the ASPCA & it’s affiliates but perhaps my money is better spent elsewhere, like at the local shelters. I adopted a month old pup 8 years ago from a local puppy rescue. He & his sister had terrible intestional & upper respiratory viruses, & spent the 1st months of their lives on antibiotics (IV & oral). The female pup never recovered & died naturally from her illnesses but the boy made it & we adopted him. We actually had to wait till he was healed until we could adopt him. He had terrible separation anxiety & ate the house, broke his cage (bent wires & broke the locks) by thrusting his body against it. He chewed up pillows, comforters, even a bathroom counter & door (a trainer told us he’d think it was his den but he didn’t, he was also an escape artist. Neighbors said he’d cry the whole time we were gone. He got over all that with the help of his uncle Dusty (my sisters dog), we put them together when we were gone & they were the best of buds. Dusty passed away at 14 but taught my boy how to exist when the humans are gone. He was 2 yrs old when he stopped destroying & learned that it was ok, we’re coming back. At that point I could leave meat on the counter, the lid off the indoor trash container, etc., & he never touched a think again. He also stopped crying, but this is all thanks to patience on his part & ours, and the love & attention from us & his Uncle Dusty. There was absolutely no reason to put down this poor little pup that had a great chance at a wonderful life with you & your mom! This does not say much for the RSPCA or their affiliates!
Sorry a few typos; he was 4 months old when we adopted him, & he never touched a thing again.
I am so very sorry for your loss. This is so wrong and sad. He looks like he had a lot of love to give and to take that chance away from him was just cruel.
Animal shelters don’t care about animals and never will unless they can .make a profit and if they don’t care they shouldn’t be around and they should be put down themselves they act like rabid animals that only want to kill not to save they use excuse after excuse about they do and they want you to believe them I never trusted shelters and never will they have to many animals and they should be taken away from them like they do to other people and kill what they don’t want and sell what they do they are worse than a puppy mill
That’s crazy! Thomas has a loving family who’s willing to take care of him and the RSPCA decided taht it doesn’t matter and just kill him?? The RSPCA is messed up. Things like this makes me so sick!!
These kinds of institutions make me sick…….no reason whatsoever for them to do that. But I believe in Karma!
why would they do this when he already had someone who would take him? I just don’t understand!!!
I am shocked about the behaviour in so-called “shelters”! What is wrong with anxiety in general? Each young baby has a time where it has fear about this or that, it is a normal process. Dogs make the same steps in their life and this is n e v er a reason to put a dog down! I am so sorry for your loss of Thomas, a living being, whom stupid human beings have taken its life. It is a still a crime and I have not words enough to explain my feelings…. I am so so sorry Thomas, you have paid the price of your life for nothing! :-(
This is a vey sad story… I am surprised that RSPCA whose very name is against cruelty should have acted with so little compassion and care… Very sad!!!
Yes I had the same thing happen to me and I still have documentation of it where I found a little dog she was actually mine from 10years ago but people thought I was crazy and I wished I hadn’t said anything. I reported the dog to ‘Animal Welfare League’ in ‘South Australia’. I had the dog for 3 weeks, I received a fine from the council for having the dog unregistered. When I confronted ‘AWL’ they didn’t know anything about notifying the council I found a lost dog because ‘Janet’ said she would notify council at the time and I remembered thanking her. ‘Mr Bruce Kingdom’ of ‘City Charles Sturt Council’ said if I don’t give up the dog to AWL that I would have police knocking. They picked her up I knew she didn’t like other people she only loved me and took to me and eventually to my son but this didn’t matter. The council were going to fine me again but decided not to because I had her for 3 weeks so the first fine of $80 was for one week. One of the staff at the council was helping me trying to register the dog but Bruce got in the way. ‘AWL’ told me she had a disease and will be put down. I was devastated, my mother contacted them for me because I was extremely upset and dumbfounded and they decided to have her live only if I sign papers and have her on meds for the rest of her life. They then put her down. There was nothing wrong with her and I had a breakdown from it. I wished I had spoken to the local MP about the whole situation. I wrote a letter to ‘Mr Bruce Kingdom’ of ‘Compliance’ in City Of Charles Sturt Council and I pointed out the flaws with the AWL and the Council and his letter back said that I was telling lies and that I wanted to try and keep her without registering her, he basically calling me a criminal. I called the council and left a message about this but he never contacted me back. Mr Bruce Kingdom had serious issues. I already had a dog and the AWL if they thought I had done something to Jessie when she was taken, if they were that concerned why did they not check on my other dog, because when I questioned the vet as to why she was ill they wouldn’t tell me anything the vet lady just kept saying we have to put her down, she didn’t want me seeing her I asked her why and she gave no answer, then I said for her that she thought I did something to her and again no answer, stupid bitch. I told AWL to stop mailing me about donations as I was treated like a criminal.
I forgot to mention 13 years ago I gave Jessie and my other Dog Sammy to a loving family because at the time I had a baby and my babys father wasn’t around much and I was going through post natal depression so I decided to give the dogs away because they weren’t getting looked after well enough by me :(( I kept the larger dog Jarni for protection. Then a miracle happend where Jessie came back and I put a picture up at AWL of Sammy just incase anyone saw him too. I wished I had kept the mobile number of the family but I didn’t think and I remember they lived around the Arndale area. Mr Bruce Kingdom checked on his computer if anyone was looking for a missing dog but there was nothing. I realised later he thought I must have been crazy and I wished I hadn’t said anything about owning her before and just said she was a stray but I was so excited and I couldn’t believe it was her honestly it was a miracle I don’t know how else to describe it. She was doing really well she put on weight and feeling comfortable and relaxed. I wished I had done more for her I feel like I failed her and I’m so angry with myself.
Instead of griping you all, call on the goverment to have a royal commision into ALL rspca,s and add all charity organisations . RSPCA arnt the only ones open your eyes
I am so so sorry. Nothing more than vitriol can I express for RSCPA_ it was a heinous crime. I am so so sorry for the pain you feel, and for the life they stole from Thomas.
I am so sorry this happenned. I have a Koolie with exactly the same traits as Thomas, his name is Gary and I fostered him through a community animal rescue and after a few months I couldn’t bear to be parted from him so I adopted him.
Gary also cried when I left the house, only becuase of his limitations. He relies so heavily on his people and other dogs in his life and when they leave it can be a little daunting until he learnt that I always come back, eventually.
Gary is a well adjusted enthusiastic young boy who attends obedience class and most people have a soft spot for him due to his friendly nature. I am so thankful there is no RSPCA in our town else I would never had the opportunity to have Gary in my life.
This information about this precious puppy is so painful to hear…it hurts to read about it. That RSPCA needs to be shut down, with that kind of horrendous and stupid behavior! Who is the IDIOT who decided to kill the puppy?? Separation anxiety, especially in a young pup is not something that requires being put to death for, get a brain. That heartless, dim-witted employee needs to be fired and the place needs a complete renovation of its employees and policies! Puppies and dogs learn, they improve with love and acceptance, puppies and dogs are precious living beings who love, feel, hurt, laugh, and all the other things that humans experience, obviously, so whomever is responsible for killing Thomas, who was very much wanted by the foster family is either wholly incompetent or/and may be dangerous to humans, too, possessing the heart and soul (lack of) of a sociopath without compassion, empathy, and understanding.
RSPCA have been on the nose for some time…..
Why? Are all Australian government bodies unaware of their responsibility to protect and provide for animals? We have live export (and brutal overseas slaughter) of our sheep, goats and cattle. We have sow stalls for our pigs. We have p.o.w. type camps for our poultry. We have culling of the last pure dingoes and of kangaroos and of the brumbies (Walers), camels and donkeys. We are killing alpacas so they can be another item on our already stuffed and carcinogenic food menu. Is there any animal that Australians really care for enough to truly protect and decline to eat? I’m SO proud to be vegan and not to have any part in the murdering of beings that we have a responsibility to protect.
This story disturbed me greatly so I wrote to the RSPCA and asked them their reasoning for this decision. The first correspondence is my e-mail to them:
I have just read a story about Thomas a little pup you put down. It was rather disturbing because it seemed like the people who were fostering him wanted to adopt him. Now I know there are 2 sides to every story but I run a rescue group in the US and also run the volunteer program at a local shelter. This story disturbed me greatly and believe me, we deal with many heartbreaking cases. But to put down a dog because of separation anxiety is nothing short of cruelty, something you are supposed to be preventing.
I rescued a dog 5 years ago who had severe separation anxiety problems but working diligently with her, she is now a therapy dog for every foster I bring in. What your motivation was to put this dog down? Give all of us a plausible explanation. This story has gone viral and hopefully you will have to answer to someone.
This was their response:
Several months ago a dog named Thomas came into the care of the RSPCA NSW with a congenital eye condition as well as some behavioural concerns. During his time at the RSPCA Sydney Shelter Thomas sustained a broken leg, which RSPCA staff believe may have been a result of increasing anxiety issues.
Thomas was placed with a foster family in order to assist his recovery and monitor growing anxiety concerns. Despite the care of these volunteer foster carers, Thomas’ anxiety issues worsened.
Following an examination by an expert veterinary behaviourists which found Thomas’ extreme state of anxiety and distress was causing him severe suffering the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanase him.
To come to this decision the RSPCA goes through a detailed process with the primary focus on what is best for the animal. Decisions like these are made only after a full and extensive evaluation of the animal is undertaken, and are made only with the animals interests in mind.
a shelter without a heart to love these dogs !!!! why do they still exist? please do something about this, i want justice for the dog!!!!! RIP my doggie <3
Yes, this and the other comments are both eye-opening and disgusting. It has changed the way I see the RSPCA – somewhere I have always donated to. But if we stop supporting them financially, isn’t it the animals who will suffer? Won’t it become worse? What needs to be done is they need to be investigated and legislation must be changed. Practice must be changed. They must be held accountable for such injustices. They get too much financial support from the business sector to simply go out away.
The RSPCA has to be sued!
i will never support the RSPCA again there nothing but a killing shelter everyone need to stop supporting them so they close down …..people if you have animals you dont want send them to NO KILL SHELTERS there are plenty of them around you just need look them up…..SHAME ON YOU RSPCA and anyone who would work for such a company
I think this story is so sad we had collies for 17 years they are adorable pets why on earth did they kill this pup he would of grown in confidence every day and the separation anxiety would of lessened as time went on. How can they say they are there to protect animals when they can kill a pup a baby feel so sad for these people they really loved this pup x
Disgusting. Separation anxiety is not a reason to murder a dog! You don’t give up on a dog like that, you help it and train it. What’s wrong with this RSPCA? It’s as if they know nothing about dogs. A giant malignant brain tumor, maybe, but not a puppy that whines! And even if it was such a tumor, when a foster home is begging and willing to work, you listen and give them a chance. You don’t kill now and ask questions later.