Australian rescue dogs ‘shot dead by council enforcing Covid-19 rules’

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Several dogs set to be rescued by an animal shelter were reportedly shot dead in rural Australia due to a council’s interpretation of Covid-19 rules. Bourke Shire Council, in New South Wales, are said to have killed the animals to prevent volunteers from the shelter, based in Cobar, from travelling across the state to pick up the animals last week and potentially spreading the virus. “We are deeply distressed and completely appalled by this callous dog shooting and we totally reject the council’s unacceptable justifications that this killing was apparently undertaken as part of a COVID- safe plan,” said Lisa Ryan, Animal Liberation’s regional campaign manager, who called for an investigation. Australian prime minister Scott Morrison hinted on Sunday the country’s ‘Zero Covid’ strategy for containing the virus may soon have to end due to the higher transmissibility of the Delta variant.