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Animals left to die in freezers as scandal engulfs taxpayer-funded NSW pound

A wave of anger is mounting at a regional New South Wales council as allegations of widespread animal neglect and abuse hit its ratepayer-funded animal shelter.

The Wagga Wagga City Council has been forced to respond to claims kittens were left to die in freezers at its Glenfield Road Animal Shelter, that a dog was wrongly euthanised, reports of pets going missing from official records and other animals being left without veterinary care.

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

Fairfax Media reports an investigation into the shelter has uncovered a list of shocking incidents over the past three years.

In one of the most confronting claims, a kitten was reportedly found frozen to death in a bloody and scratch-marked freezer by a volunteer.

In another incident, a kitten was found near frozen to death in a freezer before being rescued at the last minute by a distraught volunteer.

Volunteers photographed the dead cat found in a freezer at the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter at Wagga Wagga. Photo: Flickr
Volunteers photographed the dead cat found in a freezer at the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter at Wagga Wagga. Photo: Flickr

In an affidavit to the RSPCA, former shelter volunteer Belinda Oakman described finding a kitten in a freezer, barely alive with its fur icing over after hearing the animal’s cries.

"I opened the door to the cattery and nothing ,” she said.

"It sounded like it was over near the freezer area. I saw nothing. I went back to cleaning and heard it again. I thought 'no', it wouldn't be coming from the freezer," she said.

Another volunteer, Simone Lieschke, described a similar scene months earlier when she discovered a cat that did not survive.


“The cat was bleeding from the nose and there were blood stains all around the freezer walls," she said

"The position of the blood stains looked like they were from the cat trying to get out of the freezer.

"The way the cat was crouching in the freezer struck me as strange - it did not look like a cat that had been euthanised normally."

The revelations come less than a year after the Wagga Wagga council was forced to launch an investigation into how and why a microchipped pet dog was euthanised before its owners, who had been contacted, could collect it.

Ms Oakman, Ms Lieschke and another former shelter volunteer, Myriam Hribar, have launched an online petition that has attracted thousands of signatures.

“We have been in correspondence with Council for over ten months regarding issues that reflect an ongoing pattern of neglect and lack of compassion, and these issues have been occurring and have been raised with Council since 2011,” they wrote.

The volunteers have released a series of photos they claim show animals housed in wet and unsanitary conditions. Photo: Flickr
The volunteers have released a series of photos they claim show animals housed in wet and unsanitary conditions. Photo: Flickr

“We have found very little has changed and have been disappointed in Council’s responses, which has prompted us to contact create this petition and contact media.”

Their petition details a long list of allegations against the shelter, including animals being left without food and water or appropriate bedding.

“A sick young black dog was so thin and emaciated that its body had already started to shut down,” they wrote.

“A rabbit was left for five days with obvious signs of disease, its eyes closed oozing puss and an infected ear. Both these animals should have been taken to the vet immediately and not left to suffer.”

“The design of the new dog kennels, which cost $700,000, has not taken into account animal welfare and practicality. Dogs are sleeping on sometimes wet cement or cement covered in faeces and urine.”

“There has been a documented instance where surrendered re-homeable microchipped cats have been placed on the put-to-sleep list after only a couple of days (even though the cattery was less than half full).”

The council’s general manager Alan Eldridge on Sunday responded to the growing fury with the shelter on the council’s official Facebook page.

He said he had taken a personal interest in the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter since starting his job six months ago. He said he was a passionate animal advocate and pet owner who said he understood the public outcry.

“I acknowledge there have been mistakes at the shelter in the past, but I would like to assure people that the animals are well cared for and I am working with staff to continue to improve animal welfare at our facility,” Mr Eldridge wrote.

“Despite the confronting nature of their day-to-day role, Council staff always endeavour to act with the utmost professionalism and care in all of their duties.

“I write today to assure residents that while distressing, the matters detailed in the story are historic in nature and any necessary action has been taken in the past.”

The council referred the issue to the RSPCA, however, Fairfax Media reports action is unlikely.

RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector David O' Shannessy said his organisation had determined not to proceed with its investigation because it did not believe it could prove "criminal charges beyond reasonable doubt".


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