It is of concern that the same staff members who were on duty at the time of the Frozen Cat incident (see link - https://www.change.org/p/wagga-wagga-city-council-saviour-s-petition-improve-animal-welfare-at-wagga-wagga-pound-g-r-a-s/u/22852771 ), were also on duty during the holiday period of 2016/17 (24/12/16 – 2/1/17) when GRAS was closed to the public. Therefore we do not understand the statement published in The Daily Advertiser in April 2016, “[Council] stressed that none of the current staff at the facility were employed at the shelter at the time the allegations took place.” Under GIPA we obtained the Impound Register for the holiday period of 2016/17. No new cats or dogs were entered on the Impound Register during this period. This is an anomaly. When we have compared the Impound Registers from previous years for this same period, regardless of whether GRAS was open to the public or not, new animals have always been entered on the register. We also know animals came in during the recent holiday period of 2017/18. So why in the holiday period of 2016/17 was there not one new animal entered on the Impound Register? Were animals taken to GRAS in that holiday period and not dealt with in accordance with proper procedure? On Council’s website it states, “Each year around 1500 dogs and 600 cats pass through the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter.” This would mean the average would be about 4 dogs per day and about 1 cat per day arriving at GRAS. Yet in the holiday period of 2016/17 (10 days) not one new dog or cat is entered on GRAS’s Impound Register. Also of concern is that there were already over 50 animals at GRAS to be taken care of daily. There was one staff member on duty for a period of only 2-4 hours per day to water, feed, clean, dry beds and cages, do health checks, etc. We do not consider this an adequate amount of time to complete all the necessary tasks properly. We hold Council accountable for how GRAS was operated and their failure to properly investigate issues when they were brought to Council’s attention, allowing the same issues to repeat year in year out. It is shameful that so many animals suffered unnecessarily at GRAS. In an email we received from the DPI it stated, “All pounds and shelters operating in NSW must comply with POCTA… It is the Government’s clear expectation that local councils comply with the law…”. However, who monitors Council pounds and checks that they comply with the law? When the volunteer program at GRAS was suspended (OHS had to be addressed), some of us former volunteers continued to visit GRAS as members of the public. We had concerns about the animals’ welfare and we wrote to the RSPCA. We were banned by Council staff from visiting GRAS as members of the public (later lifted by Council management). No explanation has been given by Council management as to why some of us were banned. Unless the past is properly addressed, the issues remain. If past incidents are not thoroughly investigated, how do we know incidents that may occur in the future will be investigated appropriately? When a volunteer was incorrectly accused of taking a photo of a pound animal and placing it on social media, Council went to media with this incorrect story, see link - http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/3199408/pound-taken-off-the-leash/ . Council has never acknowledged that they were misinformed and that no volunteer took the photo, despite this being brought to their attention multiple times. When we have asked Council for further clarification on issues, the difficult questions remained unanswered, or Council’s answer is, “current staff and current sector management were not involved in the incident and are unable to comment on any inconsistencies of past employees related to the matter”. We do not accept this, as Council’s statements should be based on factual records, evidence and thorough investigation and there never should be inconsistencies. Unanswered Questions: 1. What was the rationale for GRAS to be closed to the public in the holiday period of 2016/17 when this can be a very busy time? 2. What policies/procedures were there at GRAS for staff to follow? 3. How does Council management know they were adhered to? Were there quality assurance protocols in place? 4. Were animals taken to GRAS in the holiday period and not dealt with in accordance with proper procedure? 5. There were already over 50 animals at GRAS that had been impounded prior to the holiday period. Does Council consider it suitable to have only one staff member on duty for a period of 2-4 hours per day with so many animals needing to be cared for, e.g. watered, fed, beds/cages cleaned and dried, health checks, etc? Are there OHS issues to be considered when there is only one staff member on duty? 6. When GRAS reopened to the public on 3rd January 2017, it was disturbing to read that a cat had to be euthanised because it was so sick and a cat that went to rescue had to be taken to the vet the next day. Were animals suffering at GRAS in the holiday period? 7. Did staff on duty have formal animal qualifications? 8. How are health checks carried out if staff do not have formal animal qualifications? We think there is a need for pound reform and an independent government body to monitor/investigate Council pounds. Please see link to our Update “Pound Reform Needed” - https://www.change.org/p/wagga-wagga-city-council-saviour-s-petition-improve-animal-welfare-at-wagga-wagga-pound-g-r-a-s/u/22498584 If you would like an explanation regarding these issues, please respectfully contact Council and Councillors: - Council: council@wagga.nsw.gov.au - Councillors: councillors@wagga.nsw.gov.au We thank everyone who has taken the time to email. We really appreciate your support. Please note this does not apply to current staff working at GRAS. The animals at GRAS are being well cared for by current staff and they are doing a great job in keeping animals for longer periods, giving them a better chance at adoption/rescue. We think Council management is responsible for answering the questions asked.