Council inspectors detected six breaches of the Code of Practice for the Operation of Shelters and Pounds during a visit in March. They also found seven other problems that needed action.Water was observed on the floor after cleaning in pens occupied by 37 dogs. The inspectors said this breach had also been evident in an inspection in February 2019.Cracks and decaying sealant were also found in eight blocks at the shelter.The report comes as images taken by staff in late March — separate to the report — show dogs in faeces-smeared pens, a dead mouse and mice droppings in the food store.
The inspectors also saw animals, suspected of having an infectious disease, not being isolated. These infections included kennel cough, giardia and canine coronavirus.Concerns were also raised about clogged and mouldy drains.Staff were allegedly unable to tell inspectors where the designated isolation area was, nor where disinfectants were kept or how to properly use them.“This may have been a contributing factor to the transmission of infectious diseases within the LDH,’’ the report said.“There are signs of low staff morale and a culture that contributes to a breakdown in communication, this leads to processes and procedures not being understood or followed.’’The council issued the shelter with four infringement notices and given time to make changes.In a statement, a Lost Dogs’ Home spokeswoman said the audit report did not raise any issues of animal welfare.
The home was regularly audited, the statement said, as were all organisations responsible for the welfare of animals, with the exception of rescue organisations.It said all six actions in the audit had been fixed and that the shelter had no outstanding infringement notices and all four prior notices were complied with.“Every effort is made not to hose kennels while dogs are in their pens. However, dogs servingtheir obligatory (legislated) eight-day period may sometimes have to remain in their pens ifwe do not have enough volunteers to walk them while their pens are being cleaned.’’A claim in the audit about low staff morale was “subjective and not based on quantifiable evidence’’, the home’s statement said.The shelter also alleged that a small group of ex-employees were deliberatelyattempting to undermine the business.
The shelter is the pound for 18 Melbourne councils and works with 70 rescue organisations.In the 2019-20 financial year, the shelter found homes for 5152 dogs and cats – the most ever.Animal Justice MP Andy Meddick said: “There must be no more excuses for inadequate pound and shelter management practices.’’Vet Julian Alexander said it was clear that operations and practices had failed because previous problems had re-emerged.“If you don’t fix those things you’re never going to fix your disease problem,’’ Dr Alexander said.Animal welfare advocates are also urging animal shelters to publish their euthanasia numbers every year.
THE FULL LOST DOGS HOME RESPONSE:
The audit report does not raise any issues of animal welfare.
The Lost Dogs’ Home regularly receives audit visits from Melbourne City Council as part of our adherence to the Code of Practice as are all other organisations responsible for the welfare of animals, with the exception of Rescue organisations which remain unregulated.
All six actions required by this audit have been implemented in line with and to the satisfaction of the workplan issued by Melbourne City Council. The Lost Dogs’ Home is in compliance with the Victorian Code of Practice for the Management of Dogs and Cats in Shelters and Pounds.
Four minor infringement notices were issued during this audit. The Lost Dogs’ Home has no outstanding infringement notices and we are compliant with all four notices.
Every effort is made not to hose kennels while dogs are in their pens. However, dogs serving their obligatory (legislated) eight-day period may sometimes have to remain in their pens if we do not have enough volunteers to walk them while their pens are being cleaned.
Under these circumstances every effort is made to reduce any stress that may be caused, to an absolute minimum.
As they are in quarantine, moving them to other areas within the shelter heightens risks of disease outbreaks. As we move out of COVID-19 restrictions, more volunteers are able to come into the shelter.
Disinfectant (F10) is and always has been kept in the same location and we have a blender (pre-mixer) that pours out the disinfectant prediluted at the correct dilution rate.
The observation of low staff morale made by the Acting Animal Management Officer is subjective and not based on quantifiable evidence.
This observation goes on to raise the issue of a campaign being waged by a group of employees attempting to deliberately impact the operations of The Lost Dogs Home. We were indeed are aware of a small group of now ex-employees, who were deliberately attempting to undermine our business.
We suspect these past employees may also have been responsible for giving false and misleading impressions that they did not know where the disinfectant was stored as we do know OH&S information posters were consistently being removed, exposing us to non-compliance.
All other observations have been promptly and effectively dealt with under Actions and Infringements.
The board is aware of this spot check audit.
@IanRoyall
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