The Lost Dogs Home killed 13,594 cats and dogs in 2009-2010

 

The Lost Dogs Home killed 6 out of 10 unclaimed dogs in 2009-2010

The Lost Dogs Home killed 9 out of 10 unclaimed cats in 2009-2010

Other Shelters are Achieving Better Results for Unclaimed Pets

Meanwhile other shelters have achieved dramatic reductions in kill rates for cats and dogs. AWL Queensland has been very successful increasing adoptions over the past five years.

AWL Queenland Shows What’s Possible

Why Does The Lost Dogs Home Continue To Kill In The Face Of Alternatives?

Download a PDF of this page here

The RSPCA has received numerous communications from the community that some Pets Paradise stores are fundraising on our behalf this festive season.  We would like to alert the public that we have not received any donations from any Pets Paradise store, and have actively contacted Pets Paradise head office to alert its store managers that we wish for them to cease using our brand to secure donations from the public.

The RSPCA is in no way associated with Pets Paradise and will not be accepting any donations from pet shops.

http://www.rspcavic.org/campaigns_news/latest_news.htm

This is where things get tricky.  The following email from Pets Paradise Head Office was posted on SavingPets Blog today. Out of 19 Victorian stores, only 9 are listed and a few phone calls revealed that the recipients listed are not correct for five of these. We’re waiting to hear back from the rest.

From: (prh.net.au)
Subject: Christmas Gift Tree Appeal

Please see attached for a list of charities that gratefully accepted donations from our Christmas Gift Tree Appeal last year.

Kind regards,

STORE – ORGANISATION
Roselands – Sydney Dog’s Home
Rouse Hill – Paws and Hooves
Parramatta – Animal Welfare League
Mt Druitt – Hawks Repound
Macarthur Square – Campbelltown Pound
Lakehaven – Hunter Animal Shelter
Blacktown – Blacktown Animal Holding Facility
Toombul – Peninsula Animal Aid in Redcliff
Redbank – Peninsula Animal Aid
Mt Ommaney – Animal Welfare League in Ipswich
Browns Plains – QLD Animal Welfare League
Parkmore – Pets and Paws On phoning the store we were told “Paws to Help”
Southland – Guide Dogs On phoning the store we were told Village Vet & Cat Protection Society
Rosebud – Hastings Pound
Knox City – Pets and Paws On phoning the store we were told Guide Dogs
Corio – Pets and Paws Who are “Pets and Paws”? Has anyone heard of them?
Tea Tree Plaza – Geelong Animal Welfare
Myer Centre – Guide Dogs S.A
Marion – Guide Dogs S.A
Bondi Boutique – Blind Dogs S.A
Bondi Junction – Sydney Animal Shelter
Penrith – Sydney Animal Shelter
Hornsby – Renbury Farm Animal Shelter
Hurstville – Sydney Animal Shelter
Strathpine – Animal Welfare League
Helensvale – Animal Welfare League
Carindale – Animal Welfare League
Karingal – RSPCA Peninsula animal aid in pearcedale RSPCA Vic made clear pet stores are not to collect on their behalf
Greensborough – Cat Protection Society in Greensborough
Epping – RSPCA RSPCA Vic made clear pet stores are not to collect on their behalf
Inglefarm – RSPCA
Colonnades – Guide Dogs S.A
Rockingham – Rockingham Dog Pound
Midland Gate – S.A.F.E saving animals from Euthanasia

Joe Helper Ignored Me

Victoria is the only state to set a maximum time an animal selected for sale can be held by a shelter. Our shelters oppose the ‘28 Day Rule‘ because it doesn’t take the circumstances of each individual animal into account. It results in the unnecessary destruction of cats and dogs who they would otherwise find homes for.

The Minister for Agriculture, Joe Helper,  has the final say over changes to the Code of Practice so I wrote to him a letter asking that this unprecedented and unwarranted rule be removed. No response. I followed up by email. Still no response.

Joe Helper Ignores a Lot of People

I felt a bit better to hear I wasn’t the only one being ignored.

In Victoria, a similar situation exists with all animal welfare issues being referred to the Premier for his decision, thus by-passing the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) which was established to provide community advice on the welfare of animals to the government.

The members of the AWAC are all highly motivated, talented professionals, yet the achievements of the committee remain negligible because the committee agenda and all debate are firmly controlled by the department.

Hugh Wirth – RSPCA Victoria Annual Report 2010

Hey Joe, Ignore This

StopTheClock Campaign Calls for End to '28 Day Rule'

27 Oct 2010: We’re practicing what we preach! Check out our campaign to abolish the ’28 day rule’

We have Laws that negatively affect dogs, cats, their owners and those caring for them.

You Weren’t Invited

These laws are dreamed up and agreed upon by politicians, bureaucrats and a handful of organisations with established relationships. The process is shrouded in secrecy and one we’re not invited to participate in. Our Council rangers, shelter animal attendants, scientists, behaviourists and other experts don’t have a say. This lack of transparency, public debate and evidence based decision making can only lead to more bad outcomes if allowed to continue.

Hope is on the Horizon

Facebook Twitter Blogs Email Google

There are no secrets now. Ideas are no longer controlled by the gatekeepers.

New Wave of Animal Welfare

Animal Welfare supporters are no longer content to simply donate, read a newsletter and leave it to the big organisations to take care of things. They’re getting involved.

Pets Haven Animal Shelter is a hub of conversation among animal lovers. With over 20,000 fans, this community is abuzz with conversation between real people committed to saving unowned dogs and cats. By empowering a people instead of preaching to them, this tiny shelter has gathered together one of the states most active communities.

Oscarslaw.org recently achieved a first for Victoria. Their Puppy Farm Awareness Day Rally brought Victoria’s animal welfare groups together for a common cause. This small group of passionate and dedicated individuals made use of social networks to get the message out to the public. The day provided physical evidence that Victoria’s growing animal welfare community is real.

Keep Your Coins, We Want Change

As a community we have an opportunity to fix Victoria’s companion animal welfare laws. There will be opposition from some with vested interests but fortunately the game has changed and a bottom up approach is now possible. We are finding our voice.

Working groups are forming to address specific issues. These self selecting groups can develop consensus internally and then enroll supporters for their proposals. Oscarslaw.org is a perfect example of this new model and more are sure to follow.

Seek out opportunities to use your skills, your ideas, your experience and your passion to further these efforts (or start your own!).

Dr Patricia Stewart (image pixelated at her request), Liz Walker, 2 x DPI lawyers, Colin Muir (obscured), Linda Watson, Jane Harvey

Council Declares Intent To Kill Family Dogs

Last week I was invited to attend a Review Panel hearing considering the fate of two dogs. Earlier this year a ranger from Manningham council removed two dogs from a residents home. This occurred while the home owner was out and no attempt had been made to contact the owner before a search warrant was obtained. The reason for the raid? The ranger believed the dogs to be American Pit Bull Terriers. At the time of this declaration it was illegal to register an American Pit Bull Terrier in Victoria unless it had existed in Victoria prior to November 2, 2005 and was currently registered with a Council. Note that neither of the dogs had been accused of harming anyone.

Review Panel Called To Decide Dogs Fate

There were three members on the panel tasked with deciding whether to affirm the declaration as made by the council officer or set it aside.

DPI staffer reveals their secret weapon, the Pit-o-Meter

None of these panel members are qualified to do breed identification and yet each of them agreed to take part in the panel. There simply isn’t a reliable way to determine a dogs breed from appearance when the ancestry of the dog is unknown. The DPI’s own guidelines for councils are incredibly broad. The ranger who made the declarations told the panel that according to the DPI guideines, his German Shorthaired Pointer is an American Pit Bull Terrier.

Under amendments to the Victoria’s Domestic Animals Act that came into effect on 1 Sep 2010, any dog that looks enough like the Government’s description of an American Pit Bull Terrier will be deemed to be a Restricted Breed dog. This means the actual breed of the dog is not longer relevant. This panel however was making a determination under the old law. Are these dogs APBTs? For those interested, we’ve included the relevant laws below.

The Decisions Made By The Panel

Sabbath was overjoyed to hear the news that he is not a pitbull.

Sabbath has been returned to his owner after the Review Panel set aside the Council Ranger’s declaration. After five months being held at the pound, this 9 y/o family dog with no history of aggression is finally allowed to go home.

Note that this required a previous appeal to a Review Panel who affirmed that he was a Restricted Breed Dog. This resulted in a Supreme Court challenge on the basis that the Panel did not take into account evidence from the dogs owners and their representatives.

Ouzie’s declaration has been upheld ie.The panel have by majority vote upheld the declaration of Ouzie as a restricted breed. Fate still unknown

Who would go to such trouble to save the life of a nine year old dog? Linda Watson, dog lover.

Who would go to such trouble to have him destroyed? The City of Manningham with support from the Victorian Bureau of Animal Welfare.

The Letter of The Law (for you legal eagles!)

At the time of declaration the law defined a Restricted Breed Dog as:

restricted breed dog means a dog of a breed

whose importation into Australia is

prohibited under the Customs (Prohibited

Imports) Regulations 1956 of the

Commonwealth;

26	Dogs of the following breeds:
	(a)   dogo Argentino;
	(b)   fila Brasileiro;
	(c)   Japanese tosa;
	(d)   American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier;
	(e)   Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_reg/cir1956432/sch1.html

This does not include cross breeds. Australian Customs service manual clearly states this.

2/2/6 Exemptions/Exclusions

The control does not cover crossbreeds and hybrids, or consignments of semen and/or embryos.

http://bit.ly/bOCt7b

21 Sep 2010: DPI have still not responded to our emails about the two remaining incorrect statements on their site.

28 Sep 2010: DPI have advised us that they’ve updated their website and notified councils of their error however councils still do not have the new identification “Standard” referred to in their materials.

Victoria’s Department of Primary Industries is providing information to Councils and the public on the new “Dangerous Dogs” laws that we believe to be misleading.

Given that these laws may result in the killing of family pets who have not committed any offence other than looking like a American Pit Bull Terrier (or crossbreed) we think it’s important that the laws are not misinterpreted by Council officers making declarations or by dog owners.

While most of us use the web to find information, few of us read the actual law. The DPI have recently published a page entitled:

New laws for Restricted Breed Dogs

which states that:

Note that it is still illegal to purchase or acquire a Restricted Breed Dog in Victoria.

We see nothing in the Act the prevents the transfer of ownership of a Restricted Breed Dog except to a minor. 13 Sep 2010 DPI removed this line from advice on their web page

41K Prohibition on transfer of ownership of restricted
breed dogs to minors
    The owner of a restricted breed dog must not sell,
    give or otherwise transfer ownership of the dog to
    another person who is less than 17 years of age.

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/daa1994163/s41k.html

It’s our understanding that the DPI have not yet produced the new identification “Standard” for American Pit Bull Terriers. Why are the public being directed to contact their council when the new standard doesn’t exist? 1 Oct 2010 DPI has still not responded to our queries on this issue.

Contact your local Council for more information, including help in determining whether your dog fits the new identification "Standard" for Restricted Breed Dogs.

The DPI also claims that owners of a Restricted Breed Dog can only register it with their local Council if they can prove they owned it prior to the law being enacted on 1 Sep 2010.

From [date] you will have two years to declare and register your Restricted Breed Dog with your local Council, if you haven’t already done so (as long as you can prove you owned and kept this dog in Victoria prior to [date]).

The Act does not require that you owned the dog prior to the 1 Sep 2010 for you to register it during the two year amnesty period (ends 30 Aug 2012). It only requires that the dog was in Victoria at this time. 28 Sep 2010 DPI has corrected this error on their website and notified councils.

Registration of dangerous and restricted breed dogs

(1A) A Council may register a dog as a restricted breed
     dog—
     (a) in the period that is 2 years after the
         commencement of section 7 of the Domestic
         Animals Amendment (Dangerous Dogs)
         Act 2010, if the dog was in Victoria
         immediately before that commencement; and
     (b) on or after the end of the period specified in
         paragraph (a), if—
           (i) the dog was in Victoria immediately
               before the commencement referred to
               in paragraph (a); and
          (ii) the dog was registered as another breed
               of dog immediately before the end of
               the period specified in paragraph (a).

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/daa1994163/s17.html

A storm is brewing in Melbourne around the Lost Dogs’ Home’s refusal to release the findings of the investigation into the killing of a Melbourne family’s beloved pet dog.

Brindle was impounded by the Lost Dogs’ Home last Christmas. The family received a phone call from the pound but when they went down to pick her up they were refused. A week later the family were told Brindle had been killed by lethal injection. Full details of the events are recounted in a recent article in The Veterinarian, where Sharon Bierman alleges she was repeatedly offered ‘hush money’ by an LDH representative.

More than seven months later the family still desperately want answers but Lost Dogs’ Home still refuses to reveal documents relating to Brindle’s death.

Frankston Council said it was willing to release the findings of the investigation but the Lost Dogs Home had refused, claiming exemption from the Freedom of Information Act.

Hastings Leader, 3 Aug 2010

A Bigger Problem

This story raises the broader issue of transparency and accountability by the organizations we grant the power of life and death to.

Victorian councils provide ratepayers with Animal Control services which include impounding dogs found wandering the streets. Most Melbourne councils contract out their pound services to the RSPCA or the Lost Dogs’ Home. Under state law, pounds are required to hold dogs for a minimum of 8 days in order for their owners to find and collect them. After that time the dog becomes the property of the pound who are left to decide his or her fate.

It’s problematic that pounds and shelters are not required to publicly disclose what they’re doing with all the cats and dogs our councils are sending them. In Victoria it’s left to the discretion of the organization. While RSPCA Victoria make these figures public in their annual report each year, they could stop tomorrow if they wanted. Lost Dogs’ Home stopped around six years ago and only released figures last November after being questioned by The Age. Since then they have not released any more statistics. Many other shelters do not publish their outcome statistics.

Ratepayers Deserve To Know How Their Money Is Being Spent

Council rates fund the pounds and shelters that are entrusted to care for these cats and dogs. Ratepayers have a right to expect that these animals will be given the best chance of being returned to their owners or of finding new homes. We cannot do that if statistics are not made public.

Donors Need Honesty From The Charities They Support

Victorian’s love their pets and donate millions of dollars each year to animal welfare charities. These organisations cannot put out one hand for donations while keeping their cards close to their chest in the other. Donors need to be able to make informed choices about who to give to.

What We Want To See

All pounds and shelters who receive funding from councils or public donations should make their statistics for animal outcomes publicly available. It should not be left to the discretion of mangement. At a bare minimum this should include numbers of cats and dogs impounded, returned to owners, rehomed and killed.

The alternatives to killing have been demonstrated at shelters around the country. Rather than trying to hide their failures, organisations should be open and show what they are doing to improve their results.