Transparency of Performance
Did you know in Australia, pounds do not need to share their data on euthanasia rates? Most large shelters like the RSPCA and Lost Dogs Home are transparent, although some other shelters are not.
However, the same cannot be said for any council, except in Victoria.
Transparency of performance of all councils and shelters in Australia will lead to increased public awareness of the challenges facing homeless pets, and help target resources to where they are most needed. Did you know dog euthanasia can vary from 1% to 50%, and cat euthanasia from 7% to 98%, depending on how much the council cares about the future of these animals?
What can I do?
Lobby your local shelter or pound to be transparent in its performance. Encourage them to use transparency to engage with the community to help achieve zero euthanasia of all healthy and treatable dogs and cats. Raise awareness with friends, family and your community
Success follows change at Charmhaven
Intense scrutiny and pressure from the community provided the catalyst that led to a positive change at a council-run animal shelter on the NSW central coast.
Geelong Animal Welfare Society
Protests at the Geelong Town Hall achieved management changes at the Geelong Animal Welfare Society
The new management involved community and rescue groups, and by doing things differently, increased adoption by 45%, decreased euthanasia by 66% and achieved zero euthanasia of healthy and treatable dogs in one year.
Read the recent paper by our Emeritus Professor Jacquie Rand
Article Summary: Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive and reliable data at the federal, state and local government levels across public and private agencies. In this study, we developed a methodology to estimate the annual numbers of dog admissions in Australia and to describe their outcomes. In 2012–2013, there were an estimated 9.3 dog admissions per 1000 residents (211,655 dog admissions). Of these admissions, 4.4 per 1000 residents were reclaimed (101,037 reclaimed), 2.9 per 1000 residents were rehomed (66,443 rehomed) and 1.9 per 1000 residents were euthanized (43,900 euthanized). An ongoing standardized monitoring system would enable Australia to evaluate management strategies to reduce numbers of dogs admitted and euthanized, and to benchmark its unwanted dog management policies and performance against comparable countries.