Rescue dogs shot dead by NSW council due to COVID-19 restrictions

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...to-covid-19-restrictions-20210821-p58ksh.html

Several impounded dogs due to be rescued by a shelter have instead been shot dead by a rural council in NSW under its interpretation of COVID-19 restrictions, alarming animal activists and prompting a government probe.

Bourke Shire Council, in the state’s north-west, killed the dogs to prevent volunteers at a Cobar-based animal shelter from travelling to pick up the animals last week, according to council’s watchdog, the Office of Local Government.


Several dogs have been shot by a rural pound to due to social distancing.CREDIT:LAURA HARDWICK

“OLG has been informed that the council decided to take this course of action to protect its employees and community, including vulnerable Aboriginal populations, from the risk of COVID-19 transmission,” a spokesman from the government agency said.

WTH??? How could anyone be so paranoid, stupid and cruel as to shoot innocent dogs to prevent them from being rescued? Do they not have the mental capacity to figure this out or have people been so whipped up by fear as to render them completely senseless?

Notice, too, that they couldn't be bothered with euthanizing these innocent creatures. Nope, let's just put a bullet in their head!!! It's all good, though, because after all, we're doing it for the poor aboriginals! (who thought of that one?)

I find it hard to compose a few sentences to allow for respectful discussion, so will just say ... "These damn people have lost their minds!!

 

What's the precursor to this? Has there been some kind of report that dogs carry the virus and can transmit it or are they saying that people gathering around to collect the dogs are a risk to one another?

I would venture a guess that shooting the animals is less costly than drugs used for euthanasia. As a consultant I worked in a veterinary hospital (that's when I found out I'm allergic to pet dander). We had to connect IV lines to administer fluids and it takes about 30 minutes to relax them and allow them to fall asleep. It's time consuming and costly to euthanize animals. I suppose they could have poisoned them but that takes a long time and is very painful.

I would argue that people need pets more now than ever with so many struggling with this constant isolation.

In short, people have just lot the plot somewhere. I don't get it.

 

The article seems to indicate it was done to keep people from traveling to pick up the dogs.

No doubt a bullet is cheaper, but euthanasia is not as involved as you state. You don't have to connect an IV line. You just have to give an IV shot. In the old days, that was all that was done. Nowadays, vets (at least humane ones) will give the dog a bit of gas to put it to sleep and then administer the shot.

I've had one dog euthanized. It doesn't take very long at all.

 

It's good to hear they've changed the process from when I was involved in that.

I take it you're a animal lover? This has to be hard hitting for you. I'm sorry, Woogs.

This is NOT how civilized people are supposed to live.

 

Yeah, it pisses me off. It's off the charts cruelty and stupidity. What next in the name of covid?

 

Evil people will always find a way to have somebody/something to hate. The problem is they can't live with their inner thoughts so inflicting pain upon others gives them a moment's reprieve. It's dysfunctional and toxic.

Only courageous people are willing to look into the darkness and spread light. This is the only reason I don't hate others, even my abusers. As long as I have life in my body I will survive and will spread kindness as much as I can. I may not always understand or even agree, but I won't let it overtake me and I'll never let it turn my heart. They can't take me down that easily.

 

Sounds more like an excuse, not a reason.

 

You mean the part about the aboriginals? If so, I agree. It's a PC whitewash of stupidity.

 

@MJ Davies
I don't hate, either, but I do get pissed off! In this case, I'm not sure what's worse ...... the cruelty or the stupidity.

 

All of the excuses. The traveling as well.

Friends drive 6 hours to pick up rescues from Texas and other southern states where abandoning dogs is routine.

 

I stand with you in that anger, Woogs. This is unconsciousable.

 

Serious question: Have the Aussies gone insane?

 

Interesting conversation. I have a lot of dogs. They are my friends/family/employees. I’ve had to shoot a couple that were in too much pain to wait the hour or two it takes to get a vet with access to legal drugs necessary for compassionate euthanasia. Having to do that was some of the worst/hardest things I’ve ever had to do. But not doing it would have been worse. I’ve had a few euthanized by the vet at my house as well. I wish the drug culture drug war vicious circle didn’t prevent us from being able to use legal drugs ourselves for pet/animal euthanasia but that’s another subject.

I can not wrap my head around shooting dogs with potential for rescue because of Covid.

 

The gap stop is the use of drugs for compassionate end of life for humans.

<Mod Edit>

 

Maybe they didn't have the drugs available to euthanize them that way. IDK.

There is a lawsuit going on locally now in which an out of state "rescue group" hired a local for-profit kennel last year to house something like 20 plus mostly pit bulls to keep them from being euthanized as covid supposedly left them with staffing issues. They then didn't pay them a dime on their contract that the out of state "rescue group" now claims they are not obligated for (of course) because the local kennel per the terms of their contract, declared them abandoned after several months of non-payment and went about placing most of them themselves.