A NSW government agency is reviewing the response to a fatal truck crash near Dubbo that included the euthanising of a number of horses.
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Animal welfare management decisions taken at the scene at Brocklehurst have come under the spotlight in recent media reports.
Now Local Land Services (LLS) has confirmed it is reviewing the incident.
Working closely with the LLS is an equine group that has pledged to work with the government “to ensure the best possible animal welfare outcomes in the future”.
The truck rolled at Brocklehurst on May 26 while transporting 17 horses.
Ken Smith, 64, of Young, well known in the equine industry, died at the scene.
His son, Trent Smith, 32, is facing charges of dangerous driving occasioning death and related offences.
Police said nine horses had to be euthanised on site.
LLS said in a statement it had responded to a request from NSW Police to attend a incident involving a horse transport vehicle on May 26.
It noted NSW Police was the control authority for the crash scene, and that human and equine fatalities were involved.
LLS responded to the incident to assess the animals under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act 1979, and operated under the NSW Department of Industry, Management of Animal Transport Accident Response Policy and the LLS Transport Incidents Policy and Procedure, it reported.
LLS veterinarians and RSPCA staff were on site as per the PCA Act, the LLS said in a statement.
“LLS veterinarians are trained in emergency management incidents and have many years of large animal experience,” the LLS said.
“LLS staff follow NSW DPI Animal Welfare Policies and Procedures when responding to truck rollover emergencies and have completed industry based training in the humane destruction of livestock.”
The LLS said it was working closely with the Equine Veterinary Association in reviewing the incident.
In the wake of the crash the Australian Veterinarian Association’s (AVA) equine group wrote to the three departmental chiefs responsible for the agencies that respond to animal transport incidents to offer its expertise to government in reviewing the incident.
“...particularly in the areas of equine rescue techniques, commonly used equine triage protocols and outcomes after significant equine injuries,” Equine Veterinarians Australia president Ben Poole and AVA president Paula Parker said in a joint statement.
“The AVA looks forward to working with the government to ensure the best possible animal welfare outcomes in the future when unusual and tragic events like this occur.”
A statement from a DPI spokesman noted the LLS was reviewing the response.
The NSW DPI management of animal transport accident responses policy detailed the requirements of agencies and personnel attending a transport accident involving animal carriers, the spokesman said.
“The policy allows for the NSW Police, as controlling agency at transport accident scenes, to contact Local Land Services staff and local veterinarians, including equine veterinarians, to assist in the management of animals on site,” he said.
“Personnel responding to severe incidents like this are required to quickly assess the best course of action in challenging and confronting circumstances.
“An animal's welfare and extent of suffering, as well as any associated risks to personnel managing traumatised animals, can only be reliably assessed in the live animal and by those present at the scene.”