RSPCA’s states, “You can help RSPCA NSW create a world where animals can enjoy a life safeguarded by five important freedoms.”

We matched up RSPCA’s five important freedoms with outcomes from the NSW Animal Welfare Code of Practice, which states that Council Pounds “must comply with the standards of this code”.

RSPCA: “1. Freedom from hunger and thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.”

Code of Practice: “Provision of sufficient quantities of appropriate food and water to maintain good health.”

In our diaries, we documented many occasions where animals at Wagga Pound did not have sufficient water or food.

One example was in May 2016 (even after media exposure), Myriam observed that there were two bigger puppies together in one cage. One of these puppies arrived in a skeletal condition. When she inquired whether each dog would get its own food bowl the ranger asked her, “how many food bowls do you see?” When she answered, “one”, their reply was, "there's your answer." We do not consider this to be an appropriate way of looking after a vulnerable animal. When animals are malnourished, it is important they have access to their own bowl. Both the cage floor and the bed were wet. No blanket was given to this vulnerable animal, and given the response from the ranger and the puppy’s condition, Myriam went and bought some puppy food for it to eat whilst at Wagga Pound.  (This puppy is in the photo on this update, taken whilst Myriam fostered it for a few hours before it went to Rescue).

Some diary notes from 2015:

- 18/05/15 – new black and white cat, no water bowl in cage

- 22/05/15 – feral cat in crush cage, no food/water, white feral cat, no food only water

- 25/05/15 – white feral cat, still only water in cage, it came in on the 20th, feral cat viewed on 22nd in crush cage is still in crush cage, no food or water (cage card said it came in on 21st)

- 01/06/15 – black and white cat no food, 6 kittens in the aviary had no water, pointed out to the ranger that the 6 kittens in aviary had no water, the ranger filled up both containers, the kittens were thirsty, every one of them was drinking, how long had they been left without water?

- 03/06/15 – small ginger kitten, no food or kitty litter, tabby kitten no food, two other cats had no food

Some of us were banned soon after this from visiting Wagga Pound as members of the public (later revoked by Senior management and considered inappropriate).

Under POCTA Act 1979 it states:

"Section 8 Animals to be provided with food, drink or shelter.

(1) A person in charge of an animal shall not fail to provide the animal with food, drink or shelter, or any of them, which, in each case, is proper and sufficient and which it is reasonably practicable in the circumstances for the person to provide.

(2) In any proceedings for an offence against subsection (1), evidence that an animal was not provided with clean water during a period of 24 hours is evidence that the person accused of the offence has failed to provide the animal with proper and sufficient drink during that period."

This is legislation. Who has been held to account for the needless suffering that occurred, and why wasn’t legislation adhered to? E.g. the feral cat held in a crush cage for 5 days with no food or water.

Please note Wagga Pound has improved and animals have food and water, but the past has to be properly addressed.