City of Wagga Wagga working with RSPCA on livestock neglect investigation

The City of Wagga Wagga will be taking firm interim action against the owner of a mob of sheep left unattended during extreme heat at the Livestock Marketing Centre (LMC), pending the outcome of an RSPCA investigation.

The RSPCA have been supplied with all supporting documentation and CCTV footage and has now taken over the investigation into the 11 February incident.

The City of Wagga Wagga would like to clarify that while the LMC is a Council facility, the sheep in question were in the care of their owner.

A preliminary investigation has established that sometime the sheep were moved from pens within the facility that had tree shade and water available, to a laneway.

“I again would like to thank the community members who raised the alarm,” City of Wagga Wagga General Manager Alan Eldridge said.

“I would like to express my sincerest thanks to those residents, and to the quick response by LMC staff and a contractor that ensured that this incident did not result in more deaths.

“The City of Wagga Wagga has a zero-tolerance policy for negative animal welfare outcomes and will continue to liaise with regulatory authorities to assist with ensuring the persons responsible are made accountable.”

The City of Wagga Wagga will not be commenting further until the RSPCA’s investigation is complete.