A REPORT into the death of a dog that was shot by one of Leeton Shire Council's rangers has found both the council staff member and the owner of the dog to be in breach of the Companion Animals Act.
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However, the report, obtained in part this week by The Irrigator, has recommended the affected family not be issued with any infringements regarding the matter and that council should offer to pay the costs of replacement animal if they chose to take that path.
The Irrigator has viewed 59 of the findings that were released in the report.
The external report was compiled by SINC Solutions following the shooting of the dog on January 24 after it had got out and was spotted by residents, who called the ranger.
The ranger deemed the dog to be acting in a "dangerous" and "aggressive" manner and it was put down with the use of a firearm at the Leeton Landfill and Recycling Centre without the owners being contacted.
Finding 23 of the report found the act of destroying the dog so soon after seizing it to be considered "unnecessary" when other options were available.
The report stated the ranger didn't allow the dog sufficient time to compose itself or attempt to impound the animal prior to putting it down.
However, finding 26 stated the ranger had correctly seized the animal.
Finding 41 and 42 found the ranger had breached the Companion Animals Act 1998 section 62, clause 1, by not delivering the dog to its owner, the pound or an approved premises following its seizure; with the owners of the dog in breach of the same act, section 12A and 13, in relation to the dog being unattended on the street.
The investigation was also unable to determine how the ranger achieved getting a close and accurate shot to euthanise the dog while being on his own if the dog was acting as aggressive as stated.
The dogs' body was returned to its owners the following day by another council ranger, but the report stated another council staff member should have been present at the time.
The ranger was also found to be in breach of various sections of council's code of conduct, with the report recommending performance reviews and audits be regularly undertaken, including the monitoring of firearm and ammunition use.
Finding 77 also recommended council check its firearms on a six-month basis to ensure they are in working order.
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THE external report delivered to Leeton Shire Council by SINC Solutions found council accounted for nearly one quarter of the total number of dogs destroyed across the state between April and June last year.
In that three-month period, 172 dogs were euthanised by council's rangers, which was almost equivalent to 25 per cent of the state total for the same period.
The report criticised council for its lack of information that is freely available to the public when it comes to pound release, microchipping and registration fees.
Council currently has no re-homing program system available through the Leeton pound, with the report recommending one should be in place.
Last week animal rescue group Needy Paws confirmed it was in talks with council to set up an operation in town.
