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}
I am in tears from reading this! What is wrong with them? Don’t speal enough english for telling what I feel!
I have a Resuce Dog and I never understand humans!
Shut down RSPCA, they have no accountability, its an origination, that uses animals to generate support and funds so that the people who are employed can draw a salary.
There is no love of animals nor respect for Life. I am pretty sure Thomas was put down as normal every day procedure, and mistakenly. So they had to make an excuse for his death. The person on duty at the time probably didn’t like the sound of his crying and thought it would be a solution to just take the life out of Thomas. How sad that people of this nature has to live among us.
They have no conscience no feelings and no love for life. Brutal Murderers. I hope God will have a place in heaven for poor Thomas’s Soul. May the angels sooth him.
R .(Radical) S. (Society) P. (Pointlessly) C. ( Culling) A. (Animals)
My heart is broken for Thomas….Fretting and pining for having a loving caring family… And then get’s put down cause it was missing the only love it had been shown in its short life…. No murdered, not put down..
Shame Yagoona Shame…..
What a despicable organization!!!! I will NEVER give them another penny!!! Poor, poor, beautiful Thomas!! You could have had such a wonderful life with your foster family who wanted to make you a permanent part of their family. I grieve for your loss of life and for your foster family who were denied the pleasure of making you a permanent part of their family!!! May you R.I.P., dear Thomas!!! I pray the RSPCA will eventually get what is coming to them – and that is nothing good!!!
that is so sad. wrong just wrong. i am lost for words. sorry!
How sad, I’m horrified that such a respected organisation would act in this way when they recieve so much support. Poor Thomas. This needs investigating, is there not a charity onbudsman who could check records and see why this happened?
Jackie, unfortunately this is far from unusual with this organisation. I have heard so many similar stories recently. They are far from respected by so many people because of their kill policies….putting down dogs because they don’t “re-act” exactly as their moronic workers feel in their minds they should re-act. Given to good homes, these dogs would be perfect canine citizens if only given the chance. How these “so called judges” of a dogs fate can lie straight in bed at night utterly amazes me! They’re supposed to protect these beautiful souls, but all they seem to care about is how much they’re able to acquire in donations. I WILL NEVER GIVE MONEY TO THE R.S.P.C.A. until they do the job they were originally intended to do….care for animals in need, instead of turning into a “kill shelter”. Absolutely horrific what they did to Thomas, and the family that loved and wanted to adopt him!!! They should hang their heads in shame. I hope they are starting to realise how many people despise them for their actions.
Absolutely disgusting that these people were not allowed to adopt him after all the time they spend with this pup. I think the people who lied to these wonderful people should be punished. My heart goes out to this pup who deserved to live!
They should be sued. They STINK.
These people are 100% pure evil. They must have sacrificed sweet Thomas in Satan’s name.
Rest in peace, Thomas. Enjoy your new life with God.
To the RSPCA: burn in Hell you MURDERERS!!
You call every radio, TV, newspaper, rescues, other vets and animal activist attorney in your area and start making noise.. and I real noise.. Tell them RSPCA, which I am assuming is party of the ASPCA… that they are ANIMAL KILLERS… and keep making noise… I am sure you heard about the Rottweiler who was shot by the Hawthorne Police Dept, in Hawthorne, Ca… (it went viral) they protest every week, hold meetings, called every TV, Radio Station, Newspapers, and attorney they could find.. and they are getting results
Very sad, but in reality this dog should never have been left alone considering his afflictions, deaf,
partially blind, and a broken leg. He was definitely in a state where he needed some living being to
guide him, and it may have taken months. If he was a sheep dog, it would be somewhat difficult and a
strain for him to do his so-called job. Thomas is in heaven now with no worries. God Bless Thomas.
That is just plain wrong and that place should be closed down and held accountable for those actions
I would never support a group like this….Thomas had a home with a family that loved him and the shelter murdered him! This is a sorry organization! They care more about money than the life of a dog…..I hope you all choke to death on all that money!!!!!!!!!!!! You surely can’t take it with you when you die, but I truly hope you literally choke too death on it!
Nooo people ! Why let one bad apple ruin the bunch ?! Clearly it was one/a few employees who were in the wrong here . This should be reported to head office (wherever you’re from) not blacklisted as an entire company fault. There are SO MANY honest , loving and compassionate shelters out there, don’t let this poison your dedication to volunteering/fundraising/support because of one spiteful and twisted staff member.
There will always be employees who suck, who don’t deserve to work in good places like this… Call THEM out not the entire RSPCA.
You are totally wrong there, this is common practice with the RSPCA, their kill rate is around 60% per year over all. Their temperament test is such that dogs, unless they have no feelings whatsoever, are meant to fail.
They are not for the animals any more, only for what the executives in their flashy clothes and houses can get out of it.
Unbelievable…I am speechless and disgusted that they took his life rather then give him the chance to live with you!! So sorry for your loss you did all that you could to try to save Thomas. RIP Thomas!!
OMG….. this is cruelty, they must have had that in mind from the beginning to kill him :) I am so so sorry for your loss. I really dont know what to say other than I am so so sorry :(
OMG….. this is cruelty, they must have had that in mind from the beginning to kill him :) I am so so sorry for your loss. I really dont know what to say other than I am so so sorry :( – Petition signed with love
Some of these organizations are terrible. When I hear or read stories like this they make me so MAD and SAD! This poor dog who had sight and hearing problems, of course he would have separation anxiety being taken to a strange place. I cried for you Thomas. I’m so sorry you weren’t allowed to have a life.
I’m totally horrified! This morning I had to put down my 17 years old dog, and I am all day crying,but my dog had cancer.
Why do these cruel people exist in this world??
My condolences for this family.
And this is happening in the biggest democracy of the world, terrible example of cruelty and lack of humane feelings ,people that act like that should be punished .Tony Castro Costa Rica.
I am so very sad and angry about his. I cannot hardly believe this!! I will be so mindful of this organization.
They must be sued. It will not bring back or undo the terrible harm they caused, or change the grief.
it will bring more pain, and grief. But they can’t be let off the hook.
People need to know of this.
My heart goes out to the owners. I wish they could have gotten Thomas out of there from the start.
Please people, I don’t have pets, but remember, don’t let people take advantage of anything, if you can, and don’t leave your pets (or children) with anyone, who does not show any respect for your rights, wishes or loved ones.
I am so sorry for this terrible tragedy. They killed a poor defenseless dog. Let them have it!! and bring in all the media!!
This sounds like they killed him when he kept crying for attention or because of separation anxiety before you even received the first phone call. This is disgusting and unacceptable. Why if he was still alive would it be a problem for you to pick him up? They wouldn’t care probably. The reason you probably couldn’t pick him up is because maybe an employee already killed him out of anger or hurt him or whatever. Either way this place should be punished!
This is such a sad story I can only iimagine what you are all going through :0( This action from the RSPCA does not make any sense to me I would think they would be happy knowing that someone wanted to adopt this sweet little boy. These people are becoming desensitized to life.
It’s a shame this shelter never gave the chance of life to this defenseless animal. The RSPCA should be put down and closed down for behaving badly. There is something wrong with people who arbitrarily decide to take the life of an animal that not only could have been saved but could have had a normal life. Separation anxiety is not an excuse or reason and certainly not a justification for killing this dog or any animal in their care.
They should be run out of business and pay consequences for their actions.
This is beyond unbelievable. You offered to give the dog a home and these @$$holes kill the dog? What H is wrong with these people?
Our present dog suffers from separation anxiety and we dealt with it. It took a while, but we were’t going to give up on her.
Damn this organization for being an inhumane bunch of jerks.
This is awful. My heart is with you and the lovely Thomas. This organisation should’ve closed. They are totally heartless.
Lets be clear and level headed here.
To the best of my knowledge this is true for the ASPCA as it is for the OSPCA here, so I’m guessing its the same for the RSPCA.
The OSPCA branches operate under the umbrella of the OSPCA, yes, but they are each individual organizations run by different humans. Some of these managers are useless humans and should not be managing a shelter, however many if them are great and cringe at the same incidences we do.
Blaming the entire MvDonalds corporation for one managers shirty morals and/or service is just as ridiculous as blaming the entire SPCA for one idiot managers shitty decisions.
What we need to know is which RSPCA this was at and work on overhauling management!
Sadly Tara, this is happening in the rspca’s Australia wide, you only have to do a little research to locate the other tragic stories similar to this one. Have a look and confirm this for yourself, then you’ll understand why so many people are so tired of the uncaring ways of the rspca.
To put a dog down for mild separation anxiety when there are people that are willing to help the dog is tantamount to murder. Reading this story made me physically ill. What can I do to help close this place down?
How terrible. All the while I was reading that and looking at the pictures of beautiful little Thomas, I didn’t want it to be true that he was gone!
I worked for the local Government for years and often heard the expression, ‘This is bureaucracy gone mad’, because the rules and regulations were adhered to so rigidly, irrespective of whether they made any sense or not. Well likewise here. Of course Thomas was upset but where’s the crime in that and who’s to say that it wasn’t because he sensed what was going to happen!
I’m so upset about this and feel so much for his family. Thomas need not have gone but praise God he’s out of the way of terrible people like this now. God bless his dear heart with much joy at Rainbow Bridge until he gets to join with his family again one day.x
This poor little chap would have been frightened through not seeing or hearing properly !! he was bound to gry when let as he would have been very confused.
I will never give the RSPCA another penny I thought they were here to help not destroy poor animals.
I agree they should be suede for this criminal act
Once again I am appalled by such a travesty….having worked at an animal shelter for over 12 years, I cannot even believe that something this cruel could’ve taken place. The International organization for ASPCA should be notified and they should take action immediately. This facility and their workers/managers should be fired and never allowed to work with animals again…perhaps prison time for them! I am outraged and will make sure to post this on my FB page.
mmmm the RSPCA are NOT as kind as you mite think, I had an occasion to phone the to get some help with my dog and was bluntly told that if I cannot afford to care for my dog surrender him and he will be destroyed due to the fact of his breed, this shocked me, I really thought they were an organisation in the animals favour buy NO thay certainly are not, I will never do anything to help this organisation and I pity the animals that end up there, PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT THE RSPCA TILL THAY GET THE PRIORITIES RIGHT !!!!
RSPCA – Royal Society for the Prevention of CARE for Animals
This truly made me cry!! I was reading this while looking down at my little boy who is very much a mums dog, there is nothing wrong with him, its his normal nature due to the fact he had a bit of a rough start in life due to needing a hip operation when he was only about 3 months old with lots of vet visits in his first 6 months, he follows me everywhere even when I am home, he loves people, has never bitten or been aggressive to anyone. If he was ever to be put into a shelter of any sort I really don’t think he would cope, let alone the fact he has only once had to stay at a boarding facility in his lifetime. To think if that was the case he would be put down due to separation anxiety of any sort is beyond belief and a stab in the heart!! I have done everything to make sure he his happy and healthy!! Shame on the RSPCA taking money from good hearted people believing they are donating to a worthy cause!!!
After reading this story it seems that there may be an abuser of animals at this organization. I would suggest you send this to every newspaper and TV station in Sydney. Send it to all the humane agencies around the globe and blogasphere. This kind of thing should not be allowed to be an oh well, with a toss of the hands. Especially it there are other stories like this happening with this establishment. If youthenasha
sorry I wasn’t finished but as you see my spelling got me in trouble with the add comment button! If euthanasia is there second response or if their employees can not handle a puppy who wants to go home they need to be investigated. I am sorry but to say that is an illness that a dog needs to be put down for there is something wrong. All dogs don’t like to be kenneled and away from their home if they feel loved.
RSPCA, you should hang your head in absolute shame. I know this is not an isolated case, just another sad story about incompetence and ridiculous protocols. RSPCA Yagoona appears not to give a care about animal welfare and the public should speak loud and clear about their appalling practice. SHAME SHAME SHAME.
So they killed the dog because he was too attached to you.
Um, isn’t that what’s supposed to happen?
So sad. He’s so cute.
I am writing this from Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States. I, too, am appalled at this action on the part of the RSPCA and stand with my animal-loving friends in Australia as you protest this organization’s inhumanity toward their charges. It appears this action is part of a pattern of choosing to kill animals rather than to allow them to become members of loving families. The internet is quickly changing how the “business” of shelters is done, and is highlighting for the world the overuse of euthanisia. It is time to change your practices, or be rendered obsolete and unfunded.
Disgusting RSPCA. May the people who did this rot in hell!!!
Heartbreaking – a pointless and callous death. The dog was clearly loved and thriving.
Yet another example of just how the RSPCA “operate”. RIP little Thomas, so sorry for the family who were willing to give this pup a loving home.
Nothing but anger for the heartless and tears for the innocent, it does not need to be this way. ????
wtg ..you gave him freedome ..The best ever from your pictrures story .
I’ve done it before too and here they’re just as bad up sate new York Buffalo
How utterly heartbreaking
http://www.savingpets.com.au/2013/04/did-cairns-rspca-kill-mumma-dog-yes-and-six-more-like-her/
What a terrible thing to happen, what a gorgeous pup young Thomas was. I am so sorry for your loss, this just breaks my heart. I can honestly say I hadn’t heard of a story like this before and I find it truely shocking and appaling that they would do this to an innocent creature that had a loving family willing to take him and care for him.
RIP Young Thomas ;(
Here I am leaving RSPCA in my will and my dogs in their care if I die. I do not think so anymore. RSPCA I now need convincing not to change my will and I demand you investigate this and change your stupid cruel policy .I want answers. Why did you not let these people adopt him. NOT HAPPY RSPCA.
I am so sorry, I have nothing to do with them after three separate occasions when I begged them for help to save 4 different dogs and was ignored. I gave my details despite the danger to me but to no avail. One dog starved to death after being returned to its drug affected owner, the other finally got hit by a car after being returned at least twice. Luckily the other two, mum and pup, we kidnapped. Please do not give up, make your own Thomas memorial and help the future Thomas’s.
My heart breaks for the foster carers, I’m so very sorry that this has happened, after all your love and hard work for this precious boy. Please don’t let this stop you, please find a local struggling rescue group and continue your foster work with a group that will appreciate what you do. I personally run a no kill rescue group and we treasure our foster carers, and every single animal in our care.
Time and again I am hearing stories like this, and we have foster carers who have joined us after similar events happening to them. When will these sad stories end, when will animals become the important to the rspca again? Sadly, I don’t believe it ever will.
My elderly aunt and uncle have left the majority of their estate to the RSPCA and Animal Wefare League as they have no children and are animal lovers. I have told them that both of these society’s aren’t as good as they use to be as a friend that used to work with them has told me some terrible things and that they waste a lot of the money that is donated and people don’t know this. I will be definately be showing them this story and asking them to rethink their decision as to where they leave their estate when they pass, there are other animal welfare sites that have a no kill policy that could really do with their help..