25/09/2021
If shooting 15 dogs and puppies is legal- then clearly the law needs to change. We are calling for legislative reform to make convenience killing in pounds and shelters illegal. Read the latest here: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-council-s-shooting-of-rescue-dogs-legal-rspca-finds-20210924-p58uhd.html
Recently it was reported that Bourke Shire Council killed 15 dogs and puppies, despite having offers from at least two rescue groups to rehome the animals. Investigations have now found that nothing illegal happened. Our proposed changes to the law would change that – and ensure such a cruel decision never happens again.
Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Each year, thousands of dogs and cats are killed due to lack of resourcing and overcrowding in pounds. It is clear we need urgent reform to stop the practice of ‘convenience killing’.
I’ve been running roundtables with the Parliamentary Friends of Animals Group on pound reform in NSW, and a suite of legislative changes in this space is clearly needed. Thousands of companion animals are still being killed in pounds and clearly our laws are failing to protect these animals. We will be presenting our findings to the Minister soon with further suggested changes to the law.
The brutal killing of these dogs by Bourke Shire Council attracted national and international outcry – and for good reason. Nobody wants to see a mother dog and her puppies killed, especially when they could have been given loving homes.
