Blacktown Pound Again

[aleeleewolfe]

hey everyone,

in blacktown advocate there is more bad press about blacktown pound, i feel that yes blacktown needs to change, but it getting a slagging all the time is getting annoying. the pounds got a long way to go but it still has come a distance already, so isnt it better to work with the pound rather than bag it out all the time??

or at least get a petition or something to start moving council faster in a constructive way.

anyway whats everyones ideas?

;)

http://blacktown-advocate.whereilive.com.a...s-at-the-pound/

[~Anne~]

As long as the focus of the 'slagging' is purely the Council itself, I see it as a good thing. The pound is a product of the Local Government for Blacktown. Constituents and the community have a right to be upset and call for change. Those calling for change I believe are not neccessarily wanting to hang the workers of the impound facility itself, but the Management and Councillors who allow the operations of the facility to remain third world.

The squeaky wheel gets the most oil as they say. The staff who work directly with the animals at this facility can only benefit from improved conditions. I can't any of them have an easy and fun job. They too see the misery but they can only work within the guidelines that are set and the resources that are provided to them.

Edited March 24, 2010 by ~Anne~

[Mila's Mum]

hey everyone,

in blacktown advocate there is more bad press about blacktown pound, i feel that yes blacktown needs to change, but it getting a slagging all the time is getting annoying. the pounds got a long way to go but it still has come a distance already, so isnt it better to work with the pound rather than bag it out all the time??

or at least get a petition or something to start moving council faster in a constructive way.

anyway whats everyones ideas?

:D

http://blacktown-advocate.whereilive.com.a...s-at-the-pound/

Well it's probably getting pretty annoying too for all the impounded animals (dogs, cats, bunnies, guinea pigs etc) who have to endure some of the cr*p conditions they are subjected to, because people who have the ability to change things prefer to sit on their hands and turn a blind eye. The people working behind the scenes to bring about changes would love to work with the Pound to bring about improvements, but trying to get upper management and councillors to agree to these changes is another thing - maybe constant media attention is a direct result of frustration at not getting anywhere going through the usual channels?

And it's especially difficult when one of the two councillors responsible for the Pound doesn't believe in compulsory desexing. Expect to see more media coverage - it's not going to go away until changes such as compulsory desexing and removal of the tender system are gone.

[aleeleewolfe]

ok yes the negative media coverage might seem great to you, but try to see it from a workers point of view. if i was to start bringing the media down on the place you work, would you feel happy about that? even though it may get the council to fix things? i do agree whole heartedly that the pound needs a change, but people do need to realise its workers do care, & do all they can to help the communitys lost animals with the resources available.

complusory desexing is a must, but there is no vet on the premises, only a few dogs a week can be desexed at the university, & its taking council a long time to find a solution; being a part of the council they have a stupid budget & priorities. ....grrr....

[~Anne~]

ok yes the negative media coverage might seem great to you, but try to see it from a workers point of view. if i was to start bringing the media down on the place you work, would you feel happy about that? even though it may get the council to fix things? i do agree whole heartedly that the pound needs a change, but people do need to realise its workers do care, & do all they can to help the communitys lost animals with the resources available.

complusory desexing is a must, but there is no vet on the premises, only a few dogs a week can be desexed at the university, & its taking council a long time to find a solution; being a part of the council they have a stupid budget & priorities. ....grrr....

The employees working at the Pound should look at it from a positive point of view, albeit I understand that is hard to do. They must keep uppermost in their mind that no-one is blaming them. They are paid a pittance for a very hard job, and the resources and conditions they are forced to work under are a disgrace.

Blacktown Council need to step up to the plate and pour more resources into the pound and assess current practices and policies. Perhaps if the pound workers also added their voices it would have more impact though?

Everyone needs to stand up and be counted so that we resolve the issues. No-one should be blaming the actual pound or it's employees, they are merely underpaid public servants doing what they can with the resources they have.

[Mila's Mum]

ok yes the negative media coverage might seem great to you, but try to see it from a workers point of view. if i was to start bringing the media down on the place you work, would you feel happy about that? even though it may get the council to fix things? i do agree whole heartedly that the pound needs a change, but people do need to realise its workers do care, & do all they can to help the communitys lost animals with the resources available.

complusory desexing is a must, but there is no vet on the premises, only a few dogs a week can be desexed at the university, & its taking council a long time to find a solution; being a part of the council they have a stupid budget & priorities. ....grrr....

Take a look at this quote from the article -

“I see first-hand how under-staffing impacts on animals.”

The article is saying that under-staffing is an issue at the pound, and the people trying to bring about change have been requesting higher staffing levels to help bring about some of the changes - surely that is going to help the existing staff. People realise there is not enough staff to cover all the jobs adquately, and that it can't be a pleasant place to work at with all the stress involved. If media coverage was going to help increase staffing levels and thereby reduce the stress levels at my workplace, I'd say bring it on !

It would be easy enough to implement a plan for having every animal that is adopted from the pound desexed - this task could be spread around various vets in the area. Adoption fees could be standardised to cover the vet fees so there would be no monetary loss to Council. The way it works at the moment is ridiculous - a recent example - a person tendered on a dog for $200 - won the tender but there was no space on the desexing program so the person was going to have to pay another $200 approx to get an entire dog out of the pound, plus another $200 approx to have it desexed - an overall cost of approx $600 - $700. They declined to purchase the dog. The next day, someone else purchased the dog for $60, and a space was found on the desex program, so the second person secured the dog for under $200 - go figure !

It's not hard to find a solution - they just don't want to put in the effort. If they can afford to spend $5 million dollars on gardens next to Council chambers, then they can afford to spend a few extra dollars on the pound. They could engage community support to help with a whole range of issues - there are heaps of things that could be done that wouldn't cost Council any extra money, but they don't want to pull their heads out of the sand.

ETA - re the dog in the above example - luckily he had someone else interested straightaway - but how many other dogs miss out and are pts bec prospective owners don't want to pay the high fees. The free desexing program only accepts 10 dogs a week (and that's only when the uni is open - not during term holidays). Look at the number of dogs that come into the Pound each week, and that doesn't give very many prospective adoptors a chance at free desexing. Even if the Council offered some sort of voucher system whereby people could get a refund on their registration fees once the dog was desexed, that would be a help, but they can't even manage that.

Edited March 25, 2010 by Mila's Mum

[Kissindra]

MM covered things nicely.

If I was a staff member I'd be utterly relieved to see the problems highlighted in the media, and I'd want it to continue until council pull their heads out.

Blacktown council don't have to look far for sollutions - there are plenty of good examples to follow in other councils but the change wont happen until council either grow a concience or are forced via public oppinion and pressure to lift their game.

[~Anne~]

In the paper today there is a story that Blacktown Councillors have now also voted down using free range eggs for their catering. Shame Blacktown Council, shame. You are one of the RARE Western Sydney Councils who still use caged hen eggs, and all to save a few dollars. Your record for animal welfare is appalling!

At the same time, the Mayor has the hide to whinge about not getting more state money to encourage more people to build business in the area. Maybe you start working at ground level and look at what your community wants first.

Edited March 25, 2010 by ~Anne~

[aleeleewolfe]

hmmm... yeah i guess the media is good, i guess i brought it up about the staff as i have overheard some people at the pound when i went there saying the staff arent compassionate about the animals, when i can see when i go there staff may be serving customers but comforting a scared litlle pooch, so i dont know??

i wish council would do something about it..... but no they like to paint over things (see cattery) or as milas mum put it build gardens.... even safety for staff isnt a high priority im told (what the??)

;)

[~Anne~]

I have never found the staff to be lacking in compassion. Sometimes they are helpless with it, but that also happens in Vet nursing and any other industry where you see animals suffer all the time. You simply have to overlook it at times to remain sane.

[Mila's Mum]

hmmm... yeah i guess the media is good, i guess i brought it up about the staff as i have overheard some people at the pound when i went there saying the staff arent compassionate about the animals, when i can see when i go there staff may be serving customers but comforting a scared litlle pooch, so i dont know??

i wish council would do something about it..... but no they like to paint over things (see cattery) or as milas mum put it build gardens.... even safety for staff isnt a high priority im told (what the??)

If Council would like to spend 5 mill on garden areas, and they have the budget for it, fine - but don't say there isn't spare money to spend on Pound staffing and facilities when money can be found for flash gardens .... and flash retreats for Councillors

Funny how these Councillors never go on a camping weekend to try and work out their strategies - it always has to be somewhere upmarket

As for the cattery, that was actually a really good idea - here's a photo -

Part of the strategy for increasing the adoption rate is to make the Pound a much more inviting place to visit. Prospective adoptors are put off by places that are all doom and gloom, and it must surely have a negative effect on people who are working there day in, day out. I would rather work somewhere that looks bright and cheery, rather than somewhere that is drab and looks like a prison.

Management do not need to travel to some far flung galaxy to come up with solutions on how to improve the Pound - people who have been attending the Council meetings for years, have been putting forward solutions and suggestions ad nauseum. While some changes have been implemented, that is no reason for management to put further changes at the botrom of their In Tray. There is still more action that is desperately required. The people who have been campaigning for these changes have gone through all the correct channels, dotted the i's and crossed the t's - but the 19th century mentality of the people who have the ability to bring about these changes ensures they are not brought in to effect. We are in 2010 - times have changed, the community has seen that there are better ways of doing things, and they are easily achievable. Some people are criticising the media campaign - however, if those people regularly saw injustices happening at the Pound, they might also feel compelled to take things to another level, because pursuing regular channels has met with little or no change.

Yes, people should be more responsible when looking after their pets, and no it's not Council's fault that the animals ended up in the Pound, but once in the Pound, it is Council's responsbility to provide the proper level of care, and to offer those souls who have already drawn the short straw, more opportunity to have a second chance. Putting more effort into the Pound will have many positive effects - here are just several examples -

* increase staffing levels so that staff aren't so stressed and are able to do their jobs with enthusiasm, expertise and pride - this is not only beneficial for the staff member, but for their families as well. If you are continually going home from work in a stressed state, how does that impact on other family members, which in turn impacts on how many others? I do not understand why Council doesn't want to provide more support for their staff - working at the Pound mustn't be any picnic, but it could so easily be a completely different environment and mindset. I have numerous examples of staff incompetence and indifference, but these are just a symptom of the attitude that comes from above - put people in charge who want to create a more positive and happy environment, and that will filter down to those who are working at the Pound. Those same people who previously couldn't give a toss, just may well turn out to be star employees if their work environment was more pleasant and supportive. I know with my current job, the last 6 months have been very stressful and horrendous - as a result, my carefactor has nose dived, and I'm cutting corners where I wouldn't normally - but if things improved, no doubt my carefactor and work methods would adjust accordingly. Just check this out - perfect example of how it all it takes to bring about change is the will to do it by the people who can -

* get rid of the tender system - this was supposed to be a way of stopping backyard breeders and people buying pure bred dogs for nicks, and then reselling them for a higher price. Doesn't work - these types still trawl through BP - they just have to wait a bit longer. And they have the advantage over your average Joe Blow in that they can put in a higher tender, and recoup the cost in their first litter. There would be more adoptions if people could go to the Pound and pay one set adoption fee (which included desexing), and not have to muck around with tenders and wonder if there will be space on the desexing program if their tender is successful. People can walk in off the street to a pet shop and buy a puppy without any problems - the hoops people have to jump through to adopt an animal from Blacktown drastically reduces the adoption rates at the Pound.

* bringing in compulsory desexing will not only help to reduce the number of strays, it would also provide more business for local vets. Once all the spaces in the desexing program are taken up, any other animals being adopted could be sent to local vets who would no doubt provide discounted desexing in return for regular custom. Animals leave the pound desexed, and local vets benefit with the extra revenue. The Pound still gets their adoption fee, so no-one is missing out financially.

It's not hard for a Pound to change - check out this thread re Logan Pound (Queensland) -

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=191744

It's time for senior management to step up to the plate and do more for their staff and their facility. If they don't want to improve the system, then move over and let someone else do the job - hand the responsiblity to others who are prepared to bring about positive changes at the Pound. Turning the facility into a more positive place for staff, impounded animals and visitors is not rocket science - it can be done !

Edited March 27, 2010 by Mila's Mum

[tarope]

Some people writing to the Blacktown Advocate are now blaming the volunteers saying things like "volunteers want to run their own agendas." "Volunteers have no idea what their talking about, get rid of the volunteers.""Passing judgement when they have no certificates or degrees."

Sounds like council stooges trying to run a smear compain against the volunteers, if it wasn't for the volunteers the poor dogs would sit in those cages 24/7. If it wasn't for the volunteers no one would know what really goes on in that place, and you don't need a bloody certificate or degree for that. :D

You don't need a degree to show compassion and want to help, yet when you speak out your told to keep your mouth shut. When volunteers have to go to the Media,and shame the council you know something is very very wrong.

[RottnBullies]

Great post MM

It always amazes me how certain organizations can manage to

afford certain 'things' but yet cry POOR when It comes to the animals concern

I dare say their identification of dogs needs a revamp, maybe some lessons on dog breeds.

[RottnBullies]

if it wasn't for the volunteers the poor dogs would sit in those cages 24/7. If it wasn't for the volunteers no one would know what really goes on in that place, and you don't need a bloody certificate or degree for that.

[luvinshep]

Now if you know to much or speak out too much you have no way of getting on the volunteer list......these volunteers are angels & they need a lot of them.....but council pick who they want the ones that work like robots & say nothing & just do their job......volunteers & staff need to work with each other in the interest of these animals...that is what it is all about.....council don't give a stuff about these animals....a Chinese garden that is exactly what Blacktown needs..like hell!! just one part of that money could be spent on putting more staff on & bringing in mandatory desexing & get rid of the tender system....there are a lot of vets out there that are willing to help with these dogs so that the pound doesn't have to rely on the University.....& it will not cost any where near what council is spending on this chinese garden, having their expensive holidays at the expense of ratepayers money....the mayor & his blacktown followers needs to be shown up as inhumane, insensitive, heartless cronies who just don't care..we have to show them that we do & we will fight for the rights of these animals.....

[Blacktown List]

And if anyone would like to sign the online petition to help bring about changes at Blacktown Pound, here is the link

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/blacktownpound

Please lend your support for all the BP poundies