Closure sparks protest
UNION officials have joined a group of animal welfare supporters demanding Townsville City Council and the RSPCA reopen animal management negotiations.
About 150 people gathered outside the Walker St council building yesterday to protest the RSPCA’s decision to discontinue operating the local pound.
The animal charity is expected to leave the Bohle facility by April 24 after a lastminute agreement was struck with council a week ago. However, the RSPCA would continue to investigate animal cruelty cases in the region.
Members of the Services Union joined the call for both parties to “come back to the table” and revisit negotiations for animal management in the region.
Regional organiser Jeanine Orzani said she wanted the RSPCA to continue to operate the pound until the end of its contract in August to give staff “more time” to plan for the future.
“I’m here to represent our members in the RSPCA in Townsville because there are 21 staff who are about to lose their jobs,” she said.
However, Cr Colleen Doyle said she was disappointed by attempts to bring industrial issues into the debate after negotiations had been finalised.
“Council wants to work to- gether with the community to ensure we get the best possible outcome in terms of animal management and welfare within our community,” she said.
“But I am disappointed that some of the issues got mixed together with such industrial issues between RSPCA and staff because of the high profile role the union played in the protest.”
Cr Doyle said she and Mayor Jenny Hill had a productive meeting with some Townsville RSPCA staff after the protest.
“Pets are a lifelong commitment and a member of the family,” she said. “I’d love for our community to get to the stage where we don’t have to operate a pound or offer rehoming programs.
“But this will only be achieved when everyone in the community who takes on a pet acts responsibly.”
RSPCA Townsville shelter manager Eileen Fletcher said staff felt like “children in a bitter divorce”.
“That’s how said.
Mundingburra’s Jordan Wheelhouse, 7, said he decided to attend the protest with his mum because he was worried about what would happen to the animals when the RSPCA left the pound.
“The RSPCA is a good place and if the animals get sick they help them, but if sick animals started getting put down instead that would be sad for everyone,” he said. it feels,” she