Native animal deaths at sanctuary

SEVERAL deaths and staff complaints about the neglect of animals at the Healesville native fauna sanctuary have raised serious concerns about its management.
An investigation by The Age has uncovered many troubling incidents at the 74-year-old sanctuary, amid claims that commercial imperatives were too often placed ahead of animal welfare.
The revelations follow the weekend's disclosure by The Age of allegations of abuse and neglect at Melbourne Zoo, particularly the stabbing of an elephant.
Among incidents raised by Healesville Sanctuary staff was the death of a four-month-old short-beaked echidna that was taken to Phillip Island by a keeper attending the V8 Supercars meeting last month.
The echidna was kept in a vehicle and a hotel room as temperatures rose above 30 degrees. It died the next day.
An autopsy by Zoos Victoria attributed the death to heart failure and an existing condition, but the RSPCA said the echidna should never have been removed from the sanctuary.
"Why was an echidna taken to a motor race? It's not a domestic animal, for God's sake," Victorian RSPCA president Hugh Wirth said.
Zoos Victoria senior veterinarian Helen McCracken said keepers often took animals home at night to maximise care.
Ms McCracken said the animal was left in an air-conditioned hotel room in a climate-controlled Esky.
In the past four years, concerns have been raised by staff about the welfare of animals and the acquisition of animals for marketing and public relations purposes.

These included:

■ Karak jnr, a red-tailed black cockatoo and Commonwealth Games mascot that was removed from the nest and hand-reared for media opportunities. The practice of taking dependent chicks from their parents is opposed by the Bureau of Animal Welfare guidelines, except in extreme circumstances.

■ Several other dependent chicks, including three eclectus parrots and a yellow-tailed black cockatoo, were purchased from private breeders to be hand-reared for the Parrots in Flight attraction.
■ Parrots kept in small, pet shop-style cages.
■ An eclectus parrot, Princess, decapitated by a wedge-tailed eagle when they were kept in the same open-flight enclosure.
■ Four feather-tailed gliders escaped from their enclosure, found dead in a rubbish bin.
■ Fifteen finches starved to death after being denied access to food.

When former prime minister John Howard announced in 2004 that the endangered south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo would be the official Commonwealth Games mascot, Healesville Sanctuary was quick to recognise a marketing opportunity.

Shelter aims to curb bad habits

DELAWARE, Ohio -- A few new tricks could be a dog's ticket out of the kennels at the Humane Society of Delaware County.
Many of the dogs surrendered by their owners come with behavioral problems, whether it's barking too loud, jumping too high or chewing too much.
Training pets how to mind their manners improves their chances of being adopted, and that's the philosophy behind a new volunteer-driven program at the shelter.
Dog Behavior Task Force volunteers work one-on-one with animals each week, using praise and treats to teach them basic obedience commands such as sit, quiet and stay.
"Our goal is a zero return rate," said Wade Beane, shelter director. "That every dog that gets adopted out stays in that home."
Unwanted behaviors are one of the biggest reasons pets end up in shelters, according to the American Animal Hospital Association.
"That's definitely the case a lot of times, where they get a dog or a cat and don't know how to adapt them to a house," said Jason Merrihew, spokesman for the Colorado-based association.
The Delaware County shelter houses 22 dogs of all sizes, from Tinsel the Chihuahua to Star the Saint Bernard. During the past few months of training, veterinary technician Angie Bockover said she has noticed the dogs acting calmer while in their kennels and barking less.
One of Bockover's goals in starting the program was to calm the atmosphere on the adoption floor. "It's just so stressful here, being in a cage and being around all the other animals," Bockover said.
The dogs compete for attention from visitors, often jumping and barking, which can make it difficult for prospective owners to envision the pets behaving differently at home, Bockover said.
Volunteers focus on encouraging animals' good behavior and ignoring the bad.
Such training also helps shelter employees and volunteers get to know the dogs in their care a little better. It uncovers any unwanted habits before they are placed in a new home, said Lisa Wahoff, director of the Franklin County Dog Shelter, which runs a similar volunteer program for its 320 dogs.
"It's helping them help the dogs be more adoptable," Wahoff said. "People are always afraid to adopt what they don't know."
The Humane Society of Delaware County is seeking volunteers for all programs, including the Dog Behavior Task Force. An orientation meeting is scheduled for today at 10 a.m. For more information, call 740-369-7387 or visit http://www.delawarecohumanesoc.org/.

Man charged over dog's fiery death

ARLINGTON — Police have charged a 26-year-old man over the death of Spike, whose burnt remains were found near his owners' home in Arlington.
Adam Scott Pigue of Mazourka Drive was issued with four Class C misdemeanor citations; he is the only suspect in the case.
It appears that Spike had somehow been able to get out of the yard of owner Ronnie Villaire, according to police. He was struck by a vehicle and killed.
Pigue told investigators that he found the pet Pomeranian dead in his frontyard and debated how to dispose of the dogs remains.
Pigue claims that he was intoxicated when he decided to burn Spikes remains. Information from a veterinarian and the physical evidence supports Pigues account.
Animal Cruelty charges would not apply in this case since evidence supports that Spike had died before he was burned.
Pigue will appear before the Arlington Municipal Court.