Protest against RSPCA support of 1080 to poison dogs and other animals

[Guest guest]

fwd from Animal Liberation Queensland Australia

 

1080 poison gets RSPCA support!

cynthia

25 July 2001

 

[alqld] 1080 poison gets RSPCA support!

Arial baiting (dropping 1080 baits) in rural areas near Cooma is to take

place soon to " control " feral dogs that are " bothering " sheep. 1080 poison

causes a cruel, lingering, agonising death in any animal that takes the

bait. Below is a plea put out by Animal Lib NSW to express concerns at the

RSPCA's stand on this control method. An AL NSW spokesperson was told by the

RSPCA Australia that they intend to review their policy on 1080 in the next

couple of months.

 

Please contact them to let them know you expect them to change their policy

to one of being totally against this outdated and dangerous poison. Contact

details at the end of the press release.

If you would like more information about this bait and its effects, please

contact AL Qld for information to be sent.

 

RSPCA backs use of 1080

 

Animal Liberation is outraged that RSPCA Australia has come out in support

of 1080 poison. 1080 is a deadly poison that is commonly used in Australia

to kill native animals as well as pigs, foxes, rabbits, and wild dogs.

1080 causes animals to die a slow and agonising death. Dogs for instance

become highly agitated, scream, tremble, vomit, convulse, and may even

swallow their own tongues. The time it takes for animals to die varies, for

instance dingoes take 5-10 hours, cats take 20-21 hours, and rabbits

3-44hours.

 

An aerial drop of 1080 baits is currently taking place to kill wild dogs

that are harming sheep in the Cooma region (NSW). The baiting program does

not address the actual cause of the problem - ie why wild dogs are present

in first place. The presence of wild dogs can be attributed to people who

dump and/or neglect their dogs, and to pig shooters who hunt with dogs and

commonly lose them.

 

On this matter RSPCA Australia issued a statement saying " it would prefer a

more humane alternative to 1080 if it was available, but the association

also recognised that 1080 was essential for the control of large numbers of

pest species. " (The Canberra Times, 24/7/01).

 

This is in fact the RSPCA policy on 1080. If the RSPCA is for all creatures

great and small they should never support the use of 1080. A dog that is

dumped or lost needs the protection of the RSPCA more than ever. The fact a

dumped or lost dog becomes a wild dog should not mean it is no longer worthy

of consideration and is given a dreadful death.

A real solution to the wild dog problem would be to ban pig shooting with

dogs, conduct a campaign on responsible dog ownership, and erect electrical

fencing around paddocks to protect farm animals.

The RSPCA are in the process of reviewing their policy on 1080. Please urge

them to change their policy to one that will never support the use of 1080

under any circumstances because no animal should ever endure a slow and

agonising death.

 

Contact:Dr Hugh Wirth

President RSPCA Australia

email: rspca

PO Box 265Deakin West ACT 2600Tel: (02) 6282 8300

Fax: (02) 6282 8311 (Int +61 2 6282 8311)