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.
Emotional Reunion: Touching Moment as Mother Dog Tearfully Reunites with Her Lost Puppies, Melting Hearts Everywhere.
On the side of the road, 9 precious puppies were found, hungry and scared. A compassionate group of animal rescuers provided them with food and even set up a tent for shelter. As the puppies happily devoured their meals, tails wagging wildly, the rescuers faced a heartbreaking challenge – they were overcrowded and unable to take them in.
Amidst the wagging tails, one puppy, later named Chucky, caught their attention. He seemed unwell, so they rushed him to the vet. Chucky, with a sore intestine likely from street scavenging, received dedicated care until he recovered.
The rescuers shared the puppies’ story online, and a heartwarming twist unfolded. A family recognized the adorable faces and rushed to meet them. It turns out, a stray dog had given birth to the pups in their backyard, and they had lovingly cared for the mother and her little ones for a month and a half.
Tragically, an unhappy neighbor had separated the puppies from their mother, leaving her heartbroken. Now, as the family picked up each puppy, the mother dog’s cries turned into joyful whimpers. The reunion was magical, with the mother running straight to her lost ones.
After a few days of tender care, Chucky, now fully recovered, was joyfully reintroduced to his family. Witness the power of love and compassion as this tale unfolds, proving that even in the face of adversity, reunions filled with tears of joy are possible.
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