A council in Australia killed the impounded animals to prevent volunteers at an animal shelter from travelling to pick them up and potentially spreading the virus.
Fifteen rescue dogs, including 10 puppies, have been shot dead by a rural Australian council under its interpretation of coronavirus restrictions.
Bourke Shire Council in New South Wales destroyed the canines, which had been at its pound, to prevent volunteers at an animal shelter from travelling to pick them up and potentially spreading the virus.
“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,” the Office of Local Government, a government watchdog, told The Sydney Morning Herald.
The spokesman said officials were investigating whether any animal cruelty laws had been broken.
Five of the dogs had been housed at the pound since early August and one of the dogs then had 10 pups.
The council said staff became concerned for the welfare of the animals due to overcrowding at the pound and two of the dogs attacking one of the others.
A source said the shelter volunteers were distressed and already had COVID-safe measures in place to handle the dogs.
And comedian Ricky Gervais has expressed his disapproval of the killings on social media.
Bourke Shire Council told ABC News the dogs were euthanised because the rescue organisation was from another local government area and they had concerns about people from other communities entering Bourke.
All of regional New South Wales has “stay-at-home” orders in place due to COVID-19.
The council said it had contacted its usual dog rehomer, who is based in the same area, but they were unable to come to Bourke.
The shelter that was supposed to receive the dogs declined to comment.
Animal Liberation regional campaign manager Lisa Ryan has called for an urgent investigation.
“We are deeply distressed and completely appalled by this callous dog shooting and we totally reject [the] council’s unacceptable justifications that this killing was apparently undertaken as part of a COVID-safe plan,” she said.
Australia has recently seen a surge in COVID-19 cases, forcing the country’s largest city, Sydney, to extend its lockdown through September and impose tougher restrictions, such as a curfew and a mask mandate outdoors.
Staff are allowed to work at animal shelters even when lockdown measures are in place, according to the Office of Local Government spokesman.
“Councils are also encouraged to continue to work with re-homing organisations and volunteers to care for animals, where that can be undertaken consistent with NSW Health advice,” he added.
Christopher Walken has loved the same woman for 59 years, they made a tough decision together
While Hollywood movies have given us so many love stories that are for the ages, most celebrity couples in real life are far from what we see on screen.
Divorce is not unheard of for most celebrities but there are of course, always exceptions to this rule. This is the story of legendary actor Christopher Walken and his wife Georgianne Walken, two people who have defied the odds.
Georgianne Walken was a casting director when she met Christopher Walken as they were working together. It was an instant connection that has lasted over half a century at this point.
The couple met in 1963 during a theatre tour of West Side Story. The two of them portrayed a couple for the production and slowly but surely fell for one another during the process. Georgianne recalls that she knew pretty soon that Christopher was the only man for her and the couple wed one another just a short six years after that.
“When [I] met him, [I] knew he had a future. He was good and was [going to] be better. It was a very compelling idea, and I had never met anybody like that in my life,” Georgianne said of their meeting.
She decided to get a stable job so Christopher could focus on acting without having to worry about money. Luckily, her job landed her in Hollywood once again, this time, however, she was behind the camera. She became a casting director and in this point of her career has about a 100 movies and shows under her belt. One of these shows include The Sopranos, which even led her to win an Emmy Award!
Christopher was also successful in his acting career. He has an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Deer Hunter and a BAFTA for his role in Catch Me If You Can.
“It’s very interesting being married to a man who is constantly playing a different person. You’re always living with a different person. He never tells me what part he’s playing when he’s getting ready. It just descends on me one day. Very interesting,” Georgianne has said about her husband.
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