Euthanised dog sparks online outrage
Greater Taree City Council say it was abiding by the law when its Taree Companion Animal Pound euthanised a one-year-old cattle dog on Sunday.
The dog was ‘due’ on the 24th March. That is, her seven days of holding for her owner to collect her was up; she become the property of the pound and she was able to be rehomed, rescued, or killed.
On the 24th March – which happened to be a Sunday – what did Taree Pound management do?
a) Phoned around to local rescue groups who had rescued in the past, to see if anyone could fit the dog in.
b) Promoted the dog in the local news, to give the community a chance to adopt her.
or c) Opened the pound for an hour, then killed her.
If you guessed a) or b), then you’ve obviously not spent a lot of time on this blog. But thanks for visiting!
Sadly, the answer is c). The pound management took this young, healthy dog and at the first chance they got – they killed her.
(Remember kids, no one wants to kill pets.)
In a statement to the Manning River Times, council said the Companion Animals Act and council’s pound management plan requires that an unregistered unidentified dog not wearing a tag be kept at the pound for seven days before being sold or euthanised, unless the owner is located beforehand.
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Council’s pound is open on weekends and public holidays (the pound’s hours are 3.30pm to 5pm weekdays and 8am to 9am weekends and public holidays).
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A spokesman for council said council is not able to keep animals for an indefinite period, particularly where no interest is shown and it is inevitable that there will be circumstances where animals are to be euthanised, however it should be noted that the current practices of council and the relationships that have been fostered with animal welfare organisations has resulted in more animals being re-homed and a significant decrease in the numbers of animals being euthanised.
The council certainly isn’t wrong – it is absolutely inevitable that there will be killing, if one hour is as long as the pound can give a pet to find a home.
RIP gorgeous girl. I’m sorry that you weren’t given more of an opportunity to connect with a new family who could have given you a second chance.
It’s time that someone informed EVERY council that they are NOT empowered to commit these acts, in fact, councils have NO powers under Australian law. They are not legally constituted bodies; they are corporations and unless you have entered into a contract with them, then they have no powers to enforce or prosecute any or all of their unlawful actions. You would like proof? How about a letter from the Attorney-general?
http://www.clrg.info/2010/07/attorney-general-confirms-local-councils-are-not-constitutional/
This is disgusting and completely unnecessary in this day and age. There are many caring people and rescue groups who would have helped this dog if they’d been given a chance. This was a young dog – a puppy – who deserved much better than this. Shame on you Taree Council!
well good to know that Taree council again are just “folowing the letter of the law”….
If the pound was full and there were 12 other dogs waiting at the door for a bed for the night (or 7), I could maybe understand (not), but apparently, there was only 1, yes, JUST 1, other dog in residence at the time….so what was the rush?
The law says that they can, so they did!
I hope that those that made that decision sleep well at night…..
What would it have cost to keep that dog a couple of extra days, let alone a few more hours until opening time on monday when rescue was ready to be on the doorstep with a foster carer?
Shame on you Taree pound and Council…
well I guess you only employ dog haters don’t you!
to have done this on a ‘sunday’???
what is it with rescue groups, that you wont liase with them???
It was too much bother to leave the poor puppy there for a few more days hey? Why are you even working there if you have no heart for animals. Why couldn’t you have waited for another week. Shame shame shame.
This is stupid, Cattledogs are great dogs and can always be re-homed. These kind of people should not be working in a council, or they should always talk to REAL animal rescue groups before they do anything.
So some power hungry, brainless twat goes in and kills a dog on a Sunday….just cause he can. Hope it made you feel like a real hero. People like that should be sacked immediately. Why would you have someone like that working for a council. What an absolute joke. What is the matter with you people? I would bet some family had been searching for this pup, and it could have easily been rehomed with a photo stuck on the window of the council. You just make us (normal people) sick.
How can you do this? How is one hr adequate time to find a home for this beautiful dog. Monsters!
The only ppl who can decide to take a life so quickly are called murders, and even those ppl are given far too
much time when put on death row! I will adopt this pup, bring her to me. I have two small children and am unable to travel that far. I will repay whatever gas you use! There the home is found. Now you cannot put the pup to sleep! I WILL ADOPT!
I am a dog lover and have a pet rescue dog myself. Living near the Taree pound is a nightmare due to the noise of barking dogs. Today we have a choir of about 6 dogs. Why did the Council build the pound so close to residential properties?? Complaints have been made. However, the council will do not do anything!
Absolutely disgusting. Who will be made accountable