NSW Pound & Shelter Reform
NSW’s publicly funded pound and shelter system is broken.
The NSW Government is seriously failing vulnerable impounded animals and NSW communities. Not only are NSW pounds and shelters killing thousands of impounded animals, but the level of non-compliance in many impounding facilities and management practices is also contributing to extensive animal suffering and misery. Our totally inadequate and antiquated animal welfare laws are not protecting these vulnerable impounded animals.
Being killed in a pound or shelter is still the leading cause of death for companion animals in NSW. What’s more, if they’re old, young, unweaned, unwell, suffer a disability, or even timid, their chances of being killed increase substantially with most not making it out alive.
The truth is, despite the availability of many evidence-based and life-saving programs designed to stop the killing and suffering, our NSW pound and shelter system continues to actively support and enable the killing of impounded animals with little or no public transparency and accountability.
Pounds and shelters are like every other publicly funded community service. We don’t excuse a poorly performing hospital or homeless refuge by saying people shouldn’t get sick or become homeless. Neither should we justify the appalling poor performance of NSW’s pounds and shelters by saying pets shouldn’t end up there, and it’s the community’s fault.
If, like us, you believe in the power of grassroots people who love animals, then add your name in support of Animal Liberation’s petition calling for substantial and urgent reforms to the way we manage homeless and vulnerable impounded animals in our NSW pounds and shelters. Once we reach our target, we will forward our petition to Ron Hoenig, NSW Minister for Local Government and Tara Moriarty, NSW Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales.
Our 15-point plan included in the petition sets out the essential steps needed to overhaul and reform this essential service.
Thank you for speaking up and taking direct action for vulnerable ‘homeless’ animals impounded in NSW’s broken pound and shelter system.