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.
Thank you so much for offering to close the thread, but I would like it to stay online if that is ok. It is so important that we know what is going on here, and I know so many Brits will want to help the animals out here - I certainly did not have a clue how bad the situation really is. It is really horrible, but it is a fact of life here in North Queensland.
As soon as we are able (and have got our terrier Sophie safely out of prison), we will be back at the shelter doing what we can, for Sydney's sake really. I can't adopt another dog, because if we go home that would mean six months of quarantine (never again).
No, someone has to say these things and there is nothing I can do to help Syd now, but maybe I can try and make a difference here ???
Location: From Bury,Manchester To Jimboomba, Brisbane
Posts: 6,409
We had an inccident a month ago around here with the RSPCA and a horse.Many residents had complained that the horse was not being cared for or fed properly,apparantly the RSPCA had been to the owners and had a chat about care and feed for the animal.Unfortunately things didnt improove and the animal was put to sleep a few weeks later.So who do you blame??? at first (i hold my hands up) i blamed the RSPCA for not doing enough ,HOWEVER when you look into it further,they just dont have the staff to cover this rapidly populating country,they did what they could whilst attending a thousand and one other incidents and dont deserve to be blamed at all,the hours and distances they cover wouldnt be tollerated by a general tradey or worker,they need staff and quick,they do a bloody good job and good luck to them !!
Cal x
Yes Kate - agree. But English people like myself and others are trying hard to educate the Aussies. Where you get a ot of us - a lot better than years back when we arrived. Still leave them out in the cold, dogs, here in winter, Tassie, very cold, but I tell anyone to keep them in a pack animals and need warm bodies to cuddle up to and anyway, no security if outside as can be poisoned and also cant wake you up if trouble like fire as a lot of people have been woken up and lives saved by dogs in doors.
As for RSPCA - leave a lot to be desired - local one is good but small and the dogs go to the local dogs home and that is a 4 on a scale of 10.
This dogs not kept in-doors thing is bizarre?
I grew up in a Yorks/Lancs dales rural area. Every single farm kept its dogs outside year round... usually tied to a thirty foot chain in the farm yard for guarding the farm purposes I guess with just a wooden box kennel for shelter. These dales farms are pretty bleak cold and damp places but I've never seen a farm dog which looked in poor condition... far from it and the dogs are probably nearer to their true instincts and habits than any house dog.
Whether aussies are worse pet keepers than poms I couldn't say? I've certainly never seen any acts of cruelty, but of course it happens.
