Dear Editor, from UQ Vet Student
The real issue needs to be addressed
I am writing in response to two letters on the donation of dogs from Logan City Council to the
I would like to shed some light on the extremely sad situation that Logan City Council has been faced with.
Last year, as part of my course at UQ, I researched the current unwanted pet crisis that
Unfortunately it is a fact that thousands of dogs and cats enter council pounds and shelters yearly, many of which will not leave there and are euthanased.
Some are euthanased due to behavior problems (aggression towards people or other animals) but for many it is through no fault of their own but due to the shelters being overwhelmed with too many animals.
RSPCA Australia euthanased 21,973 dogs in the 2006/07 financial year (http://www.rspca.org.au/resource/stats.asp) and Animal Welfare League Qld euthanased 971 dogs in 2006.
So simply transferring the dogs from Logan City Council pound to these shelters is hardly going to solve the problem.
The animals that UQ receives are going to be euthanased regardless.
The university however, provides some small positives in a very sad situation.
Some of the animals that were going to be euthanased are actually rehomed through the university, while for others it provides them the opportunity to be surrounded by and patted by animal lovers prior to going to sleep for one last time.
I must stress this point: all of the UQ veterinary students love animals.
I have dedicated my life to the health and well-being of animals and assure you that I would not be involved in anything that I did not feel was a reflection of that.
Instead of rallying against Logan City Council’s decision we, as a community, need to address the real issue in order to stop the death of thousands of cats and dogs
We need to solve this pet population crisis and the abandoning of animals.
How can you do this?
1. Get your pet desexed.
2. If you want to get a new pet buy one from a shelter, not a pet shop.
3. Get your pet microchipped so that if it ever enters a pound or shelter you will be notified straight away – if you can’t afford the $60 this costs, you can’t afford a pet.
Please, let’s address the cause of this crisis and solve it.
Taryn Marconi
UQ veterinary student
(Letter provided by Dayboro’s Uni Vet Surgery with permission to reprint)
