The University of Queensland has entered into a revised partnership with Logan City Council, which will mean that the use of Logan animals for terminal teaching classes has come to an end, effective from April 19 this year.
However, the Logan City Council and the University will continue to work closely to help find new homes for suitable unwanted and abandoned animals.
The UQ School of Veterinary Sciences’ Director of Teaching and Learning, Associate Professor Paul Mills, said the School was committed to continuous review and refinement of teaching practices.
“Over the last few years we have introduced many innovative surgical training approaches to prepare our students for veterinary clinical practice,” he said.
“The School of Veterinary Science continues to provide the highest level of veterinary education.
“We are committed to working together with Logan City Council to continue an affiliation that sees many unwanted and abandoned animals find new homes.
"Under the new agreement, Logan City Council will still seek to transfer animals to the University of Queensland that are potential candidates for the school's Pets-for-Life adoption program which has a very high success rate of re-homing animals into permanent homes.
"The school's students are able to assess and correct some bad behaviour traits under the supervision of highly trained staff which enables these animals to have a second chance at life."
Associate Professor Mills said the University remained well placed to continue to provide the best possible curriculum to train future veterinarians.
Logan City Council Animals and City Standards Committee Chairperson, Councillor Graham Able (Division 5), said an agreement between Council and UQ’s School of Veterinary Science that was due to expire in 2013 had been revised.
The Council and the University had negotiated a revised five-year agreement that would end the already suspended transfer of animals for terminal teaching classes.
Cr Able said that unwanted animals unable to be re-homed, that would have previously been euthanased at the University, would instead be euthanased at Council's Animal Management Centre.
"These animals euthanased at the Animal Management Centre will be transferred to The University of Queensland as cadavers," he said.
"Council has partnered with the University for over 20 years and we hope to successfully continue this relationship with the revised agreement."
Cr Able said the newly revised agreement didn't solve the problem about the large number of animals that were either surrendered or impounded and not claimed through the Animal Management Centre.
"On average 6245 animals a year are either surrendered by their owners or impounded by Logan City Council,” he said.
"It is so important to educate people about responsible pet ownership to help reduce the number of surrendered animals.
"By educating people it will make them think twice about getting that new puppy or kitten and the long term responsibilities that come with pets."
Logan City Council has established a sales and re-homing program, an animals for senior people program and a Foster Care program - all which aim to provide a better life for animals in that have either been surrendered or impounded.
People interested in purchasing an animal from council or becoming a Foster Carer should visit www.logan.qld.gov.au or visit the Animal Management Centre, open Monday - Friday from 8.30am - 4.30pm and Saturday 9am - 2pm.
