IT is clear there is community concern, as expressed in recent letters and articles in the Herald, about the killing of animals (let’s not call it “euthanasia”, which is mercy killing) in pounds and shelters in our region.

That many of these animals are in RSPCA facilities and have been subject to temperament testing alarms many people.

Of course dangerous animals should not be re-homed. That goes without saying.

But with overwhelming numbers entering the shelters, how much staff time and expertise can be devoted to each animal?

In the view of Hunter Animal Watch, the nub of the problem is over-supply of animals.

So why doesn’t the RSPCA spearhead desexing across the state? And why do Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Cessnock and Maitland councils hand over ratepayers’ money to contract the RSPCA to deal with this over-supply?

Why don’t these councils insist that public education and cheap desexing should be part of the RSPCA contract?

We look forward to the recommendations of the Companion Animal Taskforce, chaired by the member for Charlestown, Andrew Cornwell, because, as an animal welfare group that has given financial help to about 25,000 pensioners in the Lower Hunter to desex their pets, we want to be assured that the kill rate is going to come right down and that we are not wasting our time raising money with little hope of an acceptable outcome for animals.

Olga Parkes, Hunter Animal Watch