Bid To Save Town Strays
Newcastle Herald
Friday November 24, 2006
PEOPLE might think a London policeman would have seen enough not to let things get him down, but Muswellbrook Shire Council ranger Paul Shovelton admits he is disturbed.
The former bobby, who is new to the Upper Hunter, is worried about the number of unwanted dogs that wander the streets and are sometimes dumped at the shire's animal shelter.He said there could be any number of reasons why the animals were abandoned."Perhaps it is people who use them for pigging and rooing and when they don't need them any more they are let go," Mr Shovelton said.Another possible explanation was their owners were moving on from the town.Either way, the increase has led the council to consider ways to encourage animal lovers to reclaim their lost pets from the pound quickly or choose a dog from the ones left behind.The council wants to reduce the number of animals it is forced to euthanase.Mayor John Colvin said killing animals was unpleasant for everyone involved, and expensive.Now, if someone wants a dog, the shelter will charge only for its microchipping and registration about $200 and waive the usual release and boarding fee. Mr Shovelton said of the nine dogs in the shelter when The Herald visited on Wednesday, maybe two or three would survive a week.There were 76 dogs at the shelter in July. Keeper Nunya Zimmer said most of the dogs were cattle, kelpie and mastiff crosses."They just keep coming," Ms Zimmer said.On euthanase day, between four and 10 dogs can be put down in a session.Two young dogs were left at the shelter on Wednesday. One was an affectionate tan and black female kelpie with no microchip.In another pen was a relatively longer-term resident, an old, large dog that was obviously once very well-kept.The shelter is planning to install an exercise yard for the dogs, but in the meantime, the biggest hope of Mr Shovelton and Ms Zimmer is that they can increase the number of homes found for the animals.
© 2006 Newcastle Herald