A council in Australia killed the impounded animals to prevent volunteers at an animal shelter from travelling to pick them up and potentially spreading the virus.
Fifteen rescue dogs, including 10 puppies, have been shot dead by a rural Australian council under its interpretation of coronavirus restrictions.
Bourke Shire Council in New South Wales destroyed the canines, which had been at its pound, to prevent volunteers at an animal shelter from travelling to pick them up and potentially spreading the virus.
“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,” the Office of Local Government, a government watchdog, told The Sydney Morning Herald.
The spokesman said officials were investigating whether any animal cruelty laws had been broken.
Five of the dogs had been housed at the pound since early August and one of the dogs then had 10 pups.
The council said staff became concerned for the welfare of the animals due to overcrowding at the pound and two of the dogs attacking one of the others.
A source said the shelter volunteers were distressed and already had COVID-safe measures in place to handle the dogs.
And comedian Ricky Gervais has expressed his disapproval of the killings on social media.
Bourke Shire Council told ABC News the dogs were euthanised because the rescue organisation was from another local government area and they had concerns about people from other communities entering Bourke.
All of regional New South Wales has “stay-at-home” orders in place due to COVID-19.
The council said it had contacted its usual dog rehomer, who is based in the same area, but they were unable to come to Bourke.
The shelter that was supposed to receive the dogs declined to comment.
Animal Liberation regional campaign manager Lisa Ryan has called for an urgent investigation.
“We are deeply distressed and completely appalled by this callous dog shooting and we totally reject [the] council’s unacceptable justifications that this killing was apparently undertaken as part of a COVID-safe plan,” she said.
Australia has recently seen a surge in COVID-19 cases, forcing the country’s largest city, Sydney, to extend its lockdown through September and impose tougher restrictions, such as a curfew and a mask mandate outdoors.
Staff are allowed to work at animal shelters even when lockdown measures are in place, according to the Office of Local Government spokesman.
“Councils are also encouraged to continue to work with re-homing organisations and volunteers to care for animals, where that can be undertaken consistent with NSW Health advice,” he added.
Mom starts a furor on the internet by disclosing the reason she won’t be returning her shopping cart.
The Contentious Video of Dr. Leslie Dobson’s Shopping Cart
Dr. Leslie Dobson, a forensic and clinical psychologist from sunny California, probably had no clue that a routine grocery store excursion would set off such a tempest. But that’s exactly what occurred when she posted a TikTok video—which is currently more viral than cat memes—expressing her fairly strong opinions about shopping carts.
The Internet Video
Imagine this: a brilliant 16-second TikTok video. “I’m not returning my shopping cart and you can judge me all you want,” asserts Dobson, standing her stance. I’m not loading up my kids and groceries into my car, then abandoning them to return the shopping cart. Therefore, f— off if you’re going to give me a filthy look. Mic drop, am I correct?
Safety Issues
Dobson provided some important background information as the internet as a whole lifted itself up off the ground. She clarified in an interview with Today.com that the video’s goal was to draw attention to safety issues. “I wanted to give people permission to not return their carts if their intuition tells them they aren’t safe because predators watch our patterns and routines,” the woman said. First and foremost, safety!
Growing Numbers of Kidnappings
The worries of this mother bear are not unjustified. 265 children were kidnapped during automobile thefts in 2023, according to a disturbing “all-time high” study by Kids and automobile Safety. Anybody would be tempted to clutch their pearls at those numbers.
Public Response
Ahh, the internet, the place where everyone goes to air their grievances. Although Dobson’s video was meant to be a PSA, the public’s opinions were divided. She was praised by some, but others brought up the controversial “shopping cart theory.” In case you missed it, the theory posits that you may evaluate an individual’s moral fiber based on whether or not they give back their shopping cart. It serves as the grocery store etiquette equivalent of the philosopher’s stone.
Views Regarding the Theory of Shopping Carts
The argument continued. Isn’t returning a shopping cart an indication of moral decay, or is this just common sense parenting? There were rude tweets and angry Facebook posts. And views poured in from all directions, akin to an overfull shopping trolley.
In summary
Listen, people, Dr. Dobson brings up legitimate safety concerns. Not to mention, in a world where doing the “right” thing is paramount, she injects a dash of grounded reality. Let’s not fool ourselves, though; there may be other secure ways to return carts without endangering the security of the kids. What do you think about this story of the shopping cart? Post a remark anywhere you’d like on the internet. Just remember to bring the groceries in your vehicle.
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