A council in New South Wales in Australia has shot and killed multiple impounded dogs over COVID-19 concerns, prompting a government investigation.
The Bourke Shire Council killed the dogs to stop volunteers from traveling to pick up the animals which they felt was adhering to Covid 19 rules.
The Office of Local Government is investigating the dogs’ executions and said it’s evaluating to see whether any animal cruelty laws were broken.
“OLG has been informed that the council decided to take this course of action to protect its employees and community, including vulnerable Aboriginal populations, from the risk of COVID-19 transmission,” a spokesman from the government agency said.
COVID-19 positive tests are non existent in Cobar, the city where the pound resides, according to NSW Health.
“We are deeply distressed and completely appalled by this callous dog shooting and we totally reject council’s unacceptable justifications that this killing was apparently undertaken as part of a COVID-safe plan,” said animal liberation campaigner Lisa Ryan.
The Office of Local Government previously issued advice to all councils about how to operate pounds safely and effectively during the pandemic.
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