Dad’s anger at Palmerston pound after missed calls sees pup put down

‘Abhorrent’: A furious Top End dad is seeking answers after his Blue Heeler puppy was put down by the pound without his knowledge.

Blue Heeler puppy Little Girl was euthanised by the Palmerston pound after her owner could not be contacted. Owner Chris says he tried to ring the pound but never got a call back. Picture: Supplied.

A Top End dad is seeking answers as to why his “lovely, placid” puppy was put down by the Palmerston pound after attempts he says to call the pound were never returned.

“I’ve got a 10-year-old boy who’s going to be devastated,” Moulden father Chris said.

“I don’t want this to happen to anyone else, that’s all I can hope for at this stage.”

Chris said the nine-month-old Blue Heeler ‘Little Girl’ was healthy, placid, and loved playing with her brother.

Sadly she was also expert at climbing under or jumping over the property fence, despite a council inspection giving the perimeter a tick of approval.

Because of her penchant for escape, Little Girl was no stranger to the Palmerston pound, having been picked up five or six times.

The wrong contact number was listed against her microchip chip, something Chris said he had pointed out a number of times, attempting to leave his correct details instead.

On the last occasion, Little Girl escaped on Sunday, January 26.

Chris checked the pound website and local Facebook lost-pet pages without luck.

The next day, Monday, January 27, he called the council twice in an attempt to reach the pound, and was told he’d be called back.

“No one did (ring back), so my son and I began to think maybe someone else had picked her up,” Chris said.

He went away that weekend – telling the NT News neighbours “were chucking food over the fence for the dog, but didn’t realise she wasn’t there”.

Once back home Little Girl still had not turned up. He rang the council on Sunday, February 2, and again failed to get through.

City of Palmerston council pound. Picture: Supplied.

On Monday, Chris finally managed to reach the pound and was told the devastating news – Little Girl had been put down three days earlier, on Friday, January 31.

He said council claimed a 48 hour notice letter had been put in his letterbox, but he had not yet seen it.

“I have made a complaint to the pound manager of the council, I find the whole thing abhorrent,” he said.

Palmerston Council said it was investigating the incident and a response would be provided to the complainant in due course.

Chris said he contacted the RSPCA and was told there was nothing they could do considering the dog was killed humanely.

“I don’t understand the rush to kill a registered, microchipped nine-month-old pup that is in no way vicious or intimidating.

“She was a lovely placid girl that my 10-year-old loved, and here we are.”

According to Palmerston by-laws, cats and dogs may be euthanised after four business days in the pound.

On its website RSPCA NT advised owners to ensure their pet was registered and all details up to date.

“If your pet is registered and microchipped, ideally you will get a phone call from council, vet clinic or a rehoming group when they are found,” it said.

“However, occasionally microchips do fail, or people forget to update their contact details, so it is important that you also make all efforts to find your pet.”