Lost Dogs Home

[mita]

Only news I'm still waiting for .... that the Board and its Chairperson are also replaced.

[labadore]

Goddam it why hasn't the Board been sacked yet. An audit on the donations and where the money has been spent needs to be done and made public as it sure as hell hasn't been spent on making the poor animals that have survived in this awful place, comfortable.

LDH put on government watch list

Animal shelter put on government watch list and forced to report how many animals it kills after social media outrage on deaths and conditions triggers probe

The Lost Dogs Home will be monitored by the Victorian Government

The animal shelter was the subject of a recent investigation

Audit revealed that some of the animals were kept in sub-standard shelters

Lost Dogs Home have welcomed the report and committed to change

By Freya Noble for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 19:49 EST, 29 March 2015 | Updated: 02:58 EST, 30 March 2015

An animal shelter will be monitored by the government for the next three years after questions were raised about the conditions of its facilities and the number of animals being euthanised.

The Lost Dogs Home, in Melbourne, was the subject of recent audit by the Victorian Government, and will now be forced to report on its euthanasia rates twice a year.

An investigation into the shelter discovered minimum standards were not being met in some cases, and animals were sleeping on cracked concrete floors or shelters that were too small.

Lost Dogs Home, in Melbourne, was the subject of recent audit by the Victorian Government

The cracked floors mean disease is more likely to be spread as the grounds are not sealed, and some of the cat enclosures were also found to be below size.

The Lost Dogs Home provides services to 17 councils across Victoria, according to the audit authorised by Jaala Pulford, Agriculture Minister, from a number of different locations.

Ms Pulford said more focus needed to be put on the home's assessment process for whether animals should be put down.

The report uncovered that some conditions, such as cracked concrete floors, were not up to scratch

The size of the cages where cats were being held were deemed too small

'We will work to ensure all issues raised in the report are addressed and issues of non-compliance put right,' she told The Age.

Despite the home reducing its overall euthanasia rates in recent years, it was found they did not keep records which detailed the health, sociability or temperament of the animals that were put down.

The formal investigation into the shelter was launched in January, after strong social media campaign, The Age reported.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford announced the investigation on social media following a strong response from the community.

The formal investigation into the shelter was launched in January, after strong social media campaign

On Sunday the Lost Dogs Home issued a statement of their own, welcoming the report.

'The Lost Dogs’ Home welcomes the audit report released today by Jaala Pulford MP (Agriculture Minister) into our compliance under the Code of Practice because every cat and dog at the Home is cared for with compassion,' the statement, posted to their Facebook page, read.

In the post they announced a $250,000 upgrade, which would go towards: 'operational infrastructure improvements, prioritising customer and animal contact areas and animal assessment facilities.'

[labadore]

Link to official Vic govt article re the above story and official govt article in full below:

More work to be done by LDH

More Work To Be Done By Lost Dogs’ Home

Sunday 29 March 2015

The Lost Dogs’ Home has been unable to account for the factors leading to euthanasia of dogs and cats in its care, an investigation ordered by the Andrews Labor Government into the treatment of animals by the Home has revealed.

The investigation examined allegations relating to high euthanasia rates, accommodation and housing of animals, identification of animals’ owners and the assessment of animals for re-homing.

The investigation was unable to determine whether the Home’s euthanasia rates were ‘reasonable’ or comparable to other organisations, or if the health, temperament or sociability status of animals were considered.

As a result, the Lost Dogs’ Home will now be required to improve record keeping on the breakdown of euthanasia statistics.

In addition, the Lost Dogs’ Home has agreed to report to the Minister for Agriculture, Jaala Pulford, on the reasons for euthanasia twice a year, for the next three years.

The investigation found overall euthanasia rates for both dogs and cats declined across the Lost Dogs’ Home’s three sites over the past six years.

It also identified non-compliance with the accommodation and housing of animals.

Dog pen floors were found cracked and unsealed, placing animals at risk of disease, while the size of cages provided for cats housed beyond eight days also did not meet the requirements under Victorian law.

The Lost Dogs’ Home will be required to undertake specific actions to address non-compliance issues relating to accommodation of animals and report back to the Government. The Department will also work with local councils to rectify non-compliance.

The Lost Dogs’ Home fully cooperated throughout the investigation and will continue to work with the Department to address and rectify the issues raised in the report.

The report can be viewed at: http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/pets/registration-legislation-and-permits/domestic-animal-legislation-and-latest-news

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Jaala Pulford

“The Andrews Labor Government will not tolerate animal cruelty – that’s why we acted immediately to investigate these allegations.”

“While overall euthanasia rates have declined, more work needs to be done to address the management and reporting of euthanasia at the Lost Dogs’ Home.”

“We will work to ensure all issues raised in the report are addressed, and issues of non-compliance put right.”