RSPCA – Worst Job in the World
A few weeks ago we did a story on designer dogs and puppy farms. The new types of dogs being produced by some of the better puppy farms have better temperaments and make excellent pets. From the letters we received it was clear that many people misunderstood that story. They wrongly assumed we were encouraging the breeding of more dogs when in fact we were doing just the opposite. We are encouraging the breeding of dogs where good temperament and suitability as family pets are the main objectives of the breeding program. What we feel must be discouraged is the breeding of dogs for appearance as is the case with a number of pure breeds rather than with temperament as the main focus. We disagree with the RSPCA on the issue of puppy farms because we have found that well run puppy farms are producing very good family pets that are less likely to be dumped. Many breeders of purebred animals on the other hand do not place sufficient emphasis on the suitability of their animals as pets.
Nevertheless, Christmas is coming up and many people may buy a dog on impulse or receive a dog as a present which they are not prepared for. Soon after, that dog may be dumped and end up at the RSPCA. The Burke’s Backyard team visited the RSPCA to find out what really does happen when a dog is dumped.
A day in the life of an RSPCA officer
One of life’s great tragedies is that the very people in Australia who probably care most for our pets have what we think is the world’s worst job. They have to euthanase thousands of animals each year. The RSPCA is charged with the responsibility of preventing cruelty to animals and Australia-wide, 160,128 animals were taken into care in 1997-98. Of the 80,776 dogs received last year, 44.6% were euthanased. More than 14,000 were reclaimed and a very lucky 22,000-odd found new homes.
It is only the fact that these people do love and respect animals that they are able to come in to work each day. They know the alternatives for these ex-pets is probably to die as strays of starvation, car strikes or after being attacked by other animals. The mental strain on staff is such that NSW Chief Executive Officer, Charles Wright, rotates their duties every few weeks. Tears are a daily occurrence. While some of the dogs destroyed by the RSPCA each year are dangerous, old or diseased, many more are perfectly healthy, well-balanced dogs which were – and still could be – fabulous family pets.
How pets die
There is a whole range of euphemisms applied to the procedure put down, put to sleep, destroyed, euthanased. It still means pets are being killed. The RSPCA staff aims to limit the distress to dogs and cats and has a strict procedure to follow. The animals are brought into a room where they are checked again for any forms of identification, such as a microchip. Even though the animals are checked when they arrive, the RSPCA is careful to double check to ensure a mistake hasn’t been made and a valuable pet in danger of being destroyed. While staff stroke and comfort the pet, it is given a sedating injection to relax the pet, then it’s taken away for 15-20 minutes while the drug takes effect. The animal is then brought back into the room where a final, lethal injection is given. At the Yagoona centre the bodies are cremated on site. Mr Wright says he thought long and hard before allowing Burke’s Backyard in to film this segment but decided the time had come to show what really happened. He urged pet owners to think again about desexing their pets, their care during holidays and the entire responsibility of pet ownership.
Further information
Major state RSPCA shelters:
RSPCA NSW
201 Rookwood Road, Yagoona, 2199
Phone: (02) 9709 5433
Fax: (02) 9796 2258
RSPCA ACT
Kirkpatrick Street, Weston 2611
Phone: (02) 6287 8100
RSPCA NT
Boulter Road, Berrimah, 0820
Phone: (08) 8984 3795
Fax: (08) 8984 3635
RSPCA QLD
301 Fairfield Road, Fairfield, 4103
Phone: (07) 3848 0522
Fax: (07) 3848 1178
RSPCA SA
25 Meyer Road, Lonsdale 5160
Phone: (08) 8382 0888
RSPCA TAS
553 Pass Road, Mornington, 7018
Phone: (03) 6244 3033
RSPCA VIC
3 Burwood Highway, Burwood East, 3151
Phone: (03) 9224 2222
Fax: (03) 9224 2200
RSPCA WA
7 Mallard Way, Cannington, 6107
Phone: (08) 9351 8377
