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.
The poor dog is in critical condition and is left outside the hospital like a bag of bones
Ellie was a dog like no other. He had an energy and zest for life that was contagious to all who met him. But it wasn’t always that way. Ellie had a rough start to life that left him in a critical situation in front of a hospital. He was emaciated, just like a bag of bones, and he looked as though he had given up on life.
But then something miraculous happened. One day, a group of animal lovers were passing by and noticed Ellie lying there. They could see he was in a critical condition and decided to take him in. They brought him to a nearby vet, examined him, and determined that he had been severely neglected. He was dehydrated, malnourished, and suffering from a number of health problems.
Despite his difficult condition, Ellie’s spirit was still strong. He was a fighter and refused to give up. The vets and animal lovers who had taken him were amazed at his resilience, and they knew that they had to do everything in their power to help him. Over the next several weeks, Ellie received round-the-clock care from a team of dedicated animal lovers. They fed him small amounts of food every few hours to help him regain his strength, gave him fluids and medicine to treat his health problems, and spent countless hours with him providing him with love and attention that he had never received before.
As Ellie began to recover, his personality began to shine through. He was playful, energetic, and loving. He had a zest for life that was infectious, and everyone who met him fell in love with him. Word began to spread, and people from all over the world began to follow his journey on social media.
Despite his newfound fame, Ellie was quite humble and grateful. He knew that he had been given a second chance at life, and he was determined to make the most of it. He began to work with the local animal rescues to help other dogs in need, and he became an ambassador for animal welfare. As Ellie’s story continued to spread, he became a symbol of hope for animals everywhere. People who had never considered adopting a dog before began to change their mind after hearing his story.
Ellie’s journey is a reminder of the resilience of animals and the transformative power of love and care. It’s a testament to the incredible impact that a group of dedicated individuals can make on the life of a neglected and abused animal. Ellie’s story is an inspiration to us all, and we should strive to be more like him, to be fighters and never give up, to be humble and grateful, and to use our experiences to help others in need.
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