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Wangaratta Chronicle 310723

Page 1

TODAY

14o

Mostly cloudy

15o 16o 19o TUE

WED

THURS

First Constable looking out for our youth

www.wangarattachronicle.com.au

Monday, July 31, 2023

Fallen powerline incident hinders school drop-off Page 3

Page 5

$1.80 INC. GST

Phone (03) 5723 0100

Ledger shines in GC half marathon

Sport

Microchip, register pets to avoid delays in return Council responds to barrage of concerns over p pound deal THE welfare of animals travelling to Albury has been one of the major concerns for pet owners following Wangaratta council’s new contract with Albury Animal Care Centre. Council cut ties with RSPCA Wangaratta as it sought a better value for money deal with the Albury centre to manage the unhoused animals from Wangaratta for the next two years. However, since the contract started on July 1, there have been 13 animals picked up by Wangaratta council rangers, with nine returned to owners “very quickly” as they were microchipped. Three of the four animals taken to Albury were not microchipped or registered and the remaining animal was microchipped, however, the owner’s records were not current. At Wangaratta council’s July council meeting last week, public question time was moved to the beginning due to a greater level of interest, with members of the gallery asking about the processes within the new arrangement. Margaret Shelton asked whether council’s tender process included consideration of additional trauma inflicted on unsettled or lost animals, “possibly already suffering from injury, stress, abuse or neglect”. She questioned the process of sending animals to

BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au

Albury in a distressed state, exerting that she believed this could constitute animal cruelty. Ms Shelton also quizzed council on the fact people will no longer be able to visit the Wangaratta pound and adopt an animal. Council director of sustainability and culture, Stephen Swart, fielded a barrage of questions and comments but he assured the gallery that the welfare of animals and supporting responsible pet ownership remained a priority for council. “This is reflected in our processes related to the contract with Albury Animal Care Centre,” he said. “This includes reuniting animals with owners as quickly as possible if we can find and get in touch with owners. “Ensuring an animal is registered and microchipped and your contact details are up to date will help us with this. “Providing animals with the vet care they need, and in instances when an animal is not fit for transport, officers will not transport it and will seek local vet care for that animal. ■ Continued page 2

MUSICAL CLASSIC CATHEDRAL College students Makenzie Clark, Campbell Timms and Eliza Murrells are excited to star in their school’s production of Singin’ in the Rain in August. PHOTO: Chloe Jaenicke ■ See story page 2

www.rjsanderson.com.au Wangaratta Ph: (03) 5721 7002 | Albury Ph: (02) 6023 5524 | Myrtleford Ph: (03) 5752 2666 | Corowa Ph: (02) 6033 2233 | Rutherglen Ph: (02) 6032 7522


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Wangaratta Chronicle 310723 by Provincial Press Group - Issuu