[alliekate]

Hello again,

The charity that runs the shelter is the RSPCA Queensland. They are based in Brissie and have various shelters dotted around Queensland. Unlike the UK, this shelter has to deal with the stray issue as there is nowhere else for these animals to go. (In the Uk the local council is obliged by law to deal with stray dogs, and thus I think more effort has been put into reducing the stray population).

I have nothing but praise and admiration for the staff (and Inspector who single handedly covers thousands of square miles alone) at this shelter - anyone who goes to work in animal welfare does not expect to be euthansing 20-30 minimum animals first thing every single day, with more arriving on an hourly basis. It is estimated that the euthanasia rate is as high as 96 %, including healthy animals.

However, these animals are better off being humanely destroyed than left to roam as strays - the wild cat and dog popualtions decimate wildlife and that is the last thing anyone wants.

I would like to point out here that I am not a bunny hugger -since moving here we have had to deal with a very large population of cane toads (humanely of course), in order to help preserve the local wildlife (and my sanity letting our dogs go outside). I was unfortunate enough to have to practise euthanasia in the Uk as part of my job (the UK is very far from perfect!!!).

So please, please support RSPCA Queensland, or your local shelter if there is one. Money is not everything - time spent walking the animals, supporting the staff, doing the cleaning.

Sorry I'm ranting !!!