NSW pounds put down 6500 dogs and cats in a year: these are the deadliest shelters

A NSW government inquiry, which published the Pounds in New South Wales report in 2024, said it was "alarmed by the high number of animals being killed" in holding facilities.

About 13 per cent of dogs and 26 per cent of cats leaving NSW pounds last financial year were euthanised, according to data published by the Office of Local Government.

In comparison, Victorian pounds put down 8 per cent of dogs and 25 per cent of cats in 2023. RSPCA NSW had a higher kill rate than the NSW government, putting down 25 per cent of dogs (1142) and 30 per cent of cats (2089) in 2023-24.

A spokesperson for the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure said the government is working with councils and animal welfare organisations to reduce euthanasia rates in pounds and shelters.

A total of 25,274 dogs and 47,916 cats have been killed in NSW council-run pounds in the past eight years.

The proportion of cats being put down has significantly decreased in that time, from 41 per cent in 2017-18 to 25 per cent in 2024-25.

Since 2022, councils need to keep animals alive for at least seven days after seizing them. They need to notify rescue groups when an animal is available and take reasonable steps to advertise it for adoption before putting it down.

Last financial year, 189 cats and 364 dogs were killed because they were not rehomed in time. Pounds put down 241 animals at an owner's request, while 907 cats and 144 dogs died due to illness, injury or disease.

The Pounds in NSW report said animals were being unnecessarily killed and inaccurately assessed.

"It is the animals who ultimately suffer the most, being abandoned, placed under conditions in facilities that severely impact their health and wellbeing, and put on kill lists for various reasons including poor health, incorrect assumptions about their suitability for rehoming, and overcrowding," it said.

Councils told the inquiry that animals would deteriorate in the pound environment. They could not afford to vaccinate or treat basic conditions like heartworm, leading to outbreaks and euthanasia.

While fewer dogs were killed in 2019-2020, the euthanasia rate has risen in the years since.

An Animal Medicines Australia survey said pet ownership increased by 10 per cent during the pandemic years, and La Trobe University research reported one in five surveyed families acquired a new cat or dog in that period.

Last year, 20 per cent of dogs and 36 per cent of cats were adopted directly from a pound.

Besides being adopted by members of the public, cats, dogs and other animals can be given to rescue organisations to rehome. This happens for about a third of impounded animals but has decreased over the years.

The chance of a stray, lost or surrendered dog or cat being rehomed in NSW will be influenced by what pound it ends up in.

Five facilities put down every impounded cat, but most had relatively low numbers of animals overall.

Central Darling Shire Council in the Far West of NSW had the highest euthanasia rate for both domestic pets, putting down every single cat, a total of 295, and 37 per cent of impounded dogs.

Other facilities had a relatively low euthanasia rate but destroyed a large number of animals because of high intake numbers. Dubbo Regional Council put down 444 cats and 156 dogs, while Blacktown City Council euthanised 250 dogs and 272 cats.

Highest euthanasia rates for dogs, pounds with 100+ intakes

Highest euthanasia rates for cats, pounds with 100+ intakes

In a submission to the government inquiry in 2023, the Dubbo Council said the pound was usually more than 40 per cent over capacity and had a long wait list.

It said at that time that it was hard to rehome cats because "when someone loses a cat it's easier to get a new one off social media for free" and called for mandatory desexing.

"Council pounds are trying their best to accommodate lost, stray and surrendered animals but [it is] difficult to maintain the quality of care and time for exercise and enrichment of the animals in the hope of being able to rehome them," the 2023 submission said.

"Staff have to endure making difficult decisions and assist with euthanising of animals that have declined in behaviour and health due to being in the pound environment for too long."

Dubbo City Council opened an expanded pound in May, which NSW Labor MP Stephen Lawrence called "state of the art".

Blacktown City Council said its new $36 million animal holding facility was already 150 per cent overcapacity in August 2023.

"Everything we do seeks to improve the rehoming rates for pets," the council said at that time.

"We are forced to give animals away for free and not enforce impounding reclaim fees on owners.

"Only registered breeders should be able to have entire dogs and cats."

The council is a member of the Getting 2 Zero campaign, which helps pounds reduce kill rates in the hopes of saving at least 90 per cent of impounded animals.

Recommendations for pounds include desexing, microchipping and vaccinating and all impounded animals before release; having enough pens and volunteers to meet demand and long opening hours and post-adoption support.

It suggests rangers return animals to homes instead of impounding them and offer support to owners who want to surrender.

A spokesperson said the NSW government is undertaking the first comprehensive review of the Companion Animals Act 1998 in 20 years, including ways to better support council-run pounds and decrease euthanasia rates for cats and dogs.

- with Ray Athwal