How does NSW compare to the UK for dog kill rates in council pounds?

A comparison of dog kill statistics in Council Pounds between NSW and the UK overall

The purpose of this document is to create a comparison of statistics between NSW and the UK , as information for the NSW Companion Animal Taskforce public submission 2012

Summary:

• 3.3 times more dogs enter NSW Council pounds per head of population than enter UK Council pounds
• Nearly 16 times more dogs per head of population, are killed by NSW Councils, than by UK Councils
• The kill rate in Council pounds as a percent of dogs coming in, is 4.6 times higher in NSW than in the UK

The sources of statistics used for this analysis are taken from the following publications (click to open):

1. ACAC; Contribution of the Pet Care Industry to the Australian Economy 7^th Ed 2010
2. NSW Companion Animal Taskforce;  Discussion Paper, May 2011
3. Dogs Trust UK;  Stray Dog Survey 2011
4. Dog News UK;  Domestic Dog Population Is Larger Than Originally Thought, 2011
5. Wikipedia,  for human population statistics

 

Household cat/dog populations

• UK:  10.3 million cats and 10.5 million dogs (2006)

Dogs 31% of households; Cats 26% of households (2007)

• Australia: 3.41 million dogs and 2.35 million cats (2009)

Dogs 36% of households; Cats 23% of households

Human populations comparing NSW and total UK:

• NSW population 7,238,819
• UK population   62,218,761
• Aus population 22,238, 800

 Based on the figures above: 

Cats and dogs per head of population

UK  2.99 people per cat/dog

Australia 3.7 people per cat/dog

Now, lets look at some comparisons between NSW and UK stats

Dogs handled by Councils

Dogs handled by UK Councils (10-11) 126, 176 = 493 people per dog ( dogs handled by council relative to population)

Dogs handled by NSW Councils (10-11) 48,523 = 149 people per dog ( dogs handled by council relative to population)

 Ie nearly 3 times more dogs enter NSW Pounds per head of population than the UK

 

Dogs killed by Councils

Dogs pts UK Councils   7121 = 8,737 people per dog killed

Dogs pts NSW Councils 13,707 (Taskforce Paper) = 528 people per dog killed

Ie 16.5  times more dogs per head of population, are killed by NSW Councils, than by UK Councils

Council kill rates (dogs killed as a percent of dogs entering Pounds)

UK Council kill rate = 7121 / 126, 176 =  6%

NSW Council kill rate = 13,707 / 48,523 = 28%

Ie the kill rate in Council pounds as a percent of dogs coming in is 4.6 times higher in NSW than in the UK

Conclusion:

We have a serious problem in NSW,  when compared to the UK. We urge the NSW government to take immediate action on recommendations made by the NSW Companion Animal Taskforce when they are published.

Note: some people might argue that a comparison between a single Australian State and the total UK is an unfair comparison. Certainly, there are Regions of the UK where statistics are worse than the national average. However, we feel that  this analysis represents a picture demonstrating that NSW must take seriously efforts to reduce dogs entering pounds and significantly increasing dogs leaving pounds safely. Whilst similar figures are less readily available for cats in the uk, let’s not forget our feline friends in NSW.

Note: Deathrowpets have taken statistics from other organisation publications quoted and cannot warrant accuracy of those figures

Dogs NSW sabotages NSW Animal WelfareTaskforce recommendations……..

Dogs NSW is an integral member of the NSW Animal Welfare Taskforce.

“The Taskforce is chaired by the Member for Charlestown, Mr Andrew Cornwell MP, and consists of representatives of the following organisations, invited by the Ministers to participate:

• ·    Animal Welfare League NSW (AWL NSW),
• ·    Australian Companion Animal Council (ACAC),
• ·    Australian Institute of Local Government Rangers (AILGR),
• ·    Australian Veterinary Association (AVA),
• ·    Cat Protection Society of NSW (CPS),
• ·    Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW (LGSA),
• ·    Dogs NSW,
• ·    Pet Industry Association Australia (PIAA), and
• ·    Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals NSW (RSPCA).

Representatives of the Division and DPI also participate on the Taskforce.”

 The Taskforce public discussion paper was released earlier this month.. It contained several recommendations in the form of “Options”.

 “Option 1   Introduce a breeder licensing system

Key findings

There  are  effective  regulatory  mechanisms  in  NSW  to  prosecute  unethical breeders, including “puppy farmers”. However, enforcement relies on complaints from the community.

Some animal welfare agencies and industry bodies have indicated their support for the introduction of breeder licensing as a means to further strengthen the regulation of companion animal breeding practices and there is a move towards such licensing in other jurisdictions.

 A breeder licensing system could be developed to improve consistency in the regulation of cat and dog breeders by providing a “welfare tick of approval” with the aim of ensuring that breeders are ethical sellers. Licence requirements could be based on the enforceable standards of the Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Breeding Dogs and Cats. However, this system could be complemented by updating the  existing  guidelines  contained  within  the  Code  of  Practice  to  enforceable standards (see Option 2).”

 

All  good so far ……..so imagine our surprise ( actually, that’s a fib, we weren’t surprised at all) when we received the following information: