Animal shelters
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:16): (615) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Agriculture. Last week the government released Victoria’s animal fate data for the second reporting period of 1 July to 31 December 2023. It tells us that in six months Victorian pounds and shelters euthanised 5035 cats and 1272 dogs. In total 1249 of these animals were killed for so-called behavioural reasons. Twenty-five dogs died in the care of GAP, the only greyhound rehoming group that is funded by this government. Twenty-four of these dogs were euthanised mostly for their behaviour, but one dog was listed as having died without euthanasia. Can the minister advise how this dog died?
Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:17): I thank the member for her question and will refer it, through the Attorney-General as the representative minister, to the Minister for Agriculture in the other place.
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:17): The mandatory reporting of animal fate data was one of 17Â recommendations from the Taskforce on Rehoming Pets, chaired by former Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick. This work set out to understand the operation of pounds and shelters and help support them in their efforts to successfully rehome dogs and cats across Victoria. Now that we have greater transparency through animal fate data reporting, we must continue forward to the next steps, which include ending outdated methods of behavioural testing. In their response the government supported all of these recommendations, yet three years on from this none have been implemented. Meanwhile rehomeable animals continue to be killed at unacceptable levels across the state. Can the minister advise when these recommendations will actually be implemented?
Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:18): I again thank the member for her question. In accordance with the standing orders I will refer it accordingly.