Outside the Lost Dogs Home lay floral tributes to the pets who have lost their lives.
A vigil held yesterday, saw hundreds of people visit the Lost Dogs Home to lay a floral tribute to the pets who have lost their live unnecessarily, and to call for the resignation of organisation’s board and management.
Not only having lost the trust of the community, the Lost Dogs Home have also lost the support of the Victorian government. Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford called for an inquiry into the practices of The Home, after being inundated with concerned calls and emails. While the state premier also weighed in;
Premier Daniel Andrews said he was troubled by widespread reports of poor practice and needed to get to the bottom of those concerns.
“We need to make sure there’s community confidence in terms of animal welfare and the other services that are provided, not just by the government, but by those who we fund.”
What most people don’t realise is that it’s not that something has ‘gone wrong’ at the Lost Dogs Home. They’re not a welfare organisation who has somehow ‘lost their way’; they were created for the purpose of – and their history lies in – killing dogs and cats.
100 years ago, the Lost Dogs Home was founded to give a “humane euthanasia” to dogs being collected off the street by local councils, in a time when brutal killings like drownings and beatings were the norm.
…. “The Argus newspaper reported in 1914 that, in its first year of operation, 906 dogs that were not reclaimed by their owners, or were hopelessly sick or injured, were killed in the lethal chamber. That equates to approximately 85% of all dogs admitted to the Home, a precedent that was to become the modus operandi of the Home for the next 100 years.” ….
Opening celebrations: onlookers being shown the lethal chamber by Mr W Kendall, honorary veterinary surgeon to the Home. 28 February 1913 (more info) |
An operator uses the ‘Lethanair’ machine in the 1970’s. The chamber was extremely controversial due to welfare concerns, and only massive public outcry saw its use discontinued (more info) |
Graeme Smith holds dead dogs in the 1980’s. In 2009 he described his staff as “the community’s executioners for unwanted pets“ (more info) |
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The reason the community is so focused now on the Lost Dogs Home, is because unlike other shelters and pounds, they have refused to evolve to reflect the expectations of their community. They have continued to ‘double dip’ the system; acting simultaneously as a pet disposal service for local council and being paid to kill almost unimaginably enormous numbers of dogs and cats – while at the same time courting donors and bequestors under the auspices of operating a sanctuary offering treatment and safety. In short, they’ve spun us a yarn for decades and the public has now caught on. And people are pissed.
Australians are extremely responsible with their own pets. They’re extremely generous with their donations, making the Lost Dogs Home one of the richest charities in the country. And yet, the LDH have not kept up with their end of the bargain – continuing to kill pets even after the public has begged them to stop.
The time for change is now. Resign the lot of you.
Resignation is required and new policies replacing the outdated ideas currently held in the LDH.
i use to support THE LOST DOGS HOME FOR YEARS but i never knew this was happening i live in nsw im glad a bit late now tho they should pay all donated money back again in my case 2 3 thousand dollars they really touch your heart strings
Great article!
My father tried to stop this 40 years ago to no avail. Common animal lovers lets band together and show them that the power of the people can make right this horrendous injustice to defenceless animals,
Animal welfare before profits! Fire them!
Time for LDH Board and Management to resign.
You have failed all animals and owners – and YOU ARE A DISGRACE !!
Complete change is required.
The public will be satisfied with no less.
Time for LDH Board and Management to resign.
You have failed all animals and owners – and YOU ARE A DISGRACE !!
As I have previously mentioned – can’t sack them if they actually own the place! The ownership of the LDH is shrouded in mystery. It is an unlisted public company – not a charity as many people believe. The register of shareholders/members is held at LDH and therefore impossible to access. It makes a lot of sense that someone like GS has only lasted for 30 years because he cannot be sacked if he is the owner. I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of the board – many of whom have been there for far too long i.e in excess of 10 years – are also shareholders.
Do the right thing and Resign Now. ????????
Shame Shame Shame Smith and Board!
i dont like the thing they are doing to the dogs and cats. i live in canada and i have never hear of this. till now
Jenna, you are right that the LDH is a public company, but you are wrong about it not being a charity – it is registered with The Australian Not for Profit and Charities Commission which regulates all charities.
The inhumane treatment of these animals is horrendous. I cannot believe it is still being allowed to happen. The members of the board need to resign immediately and new more humane board members put in place. This is very shameful.
This organisation is hiding behind the fact that old laws and ways stated that this is what we do. In the real world people…..
Things must change.
This is just out and out cruelty and murder.