RSPCA to investigate death of dog aboard the Spirit of Tasmania

Mr Byrne said the animal welfare organisation was approached by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment following the incident last week.

He said the incident warranted a “serious think” about how domestic animals are transported and the design of the new Spirit ships.

“It’s not just about the design of the ships; it’s about the processes as well. Basically not leaving them there by themselves to die,” he said.

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Mr Byrne has yet to get across the full details surrounding the dog death but said they’d emerge as the investigation progressed.

However he reiterated concerns about animals aboard the Spirit.

“I parked on the boat right next to where the dogs go,” he said.

“In the 21^st century a lot of people expect a nicer place to put their animals.”

South Australian Marcus Lehmann said he expressed concern to staff about the arrangements hours before his dog Mook died.

“When I loaded him into the cage I expressed my concerns and they said they watched them all the time,” Mr Lehmann said.

“They watched my dog die in the bottom of that boat or somebody did or nobody was watching at all.”

Spirit operator TT-Line didn’t answer questions from The Advocate on Friday about whether the dog had been checked.

A spokesperson said Spirit of Tasmania was “in direct contact with the owner of the animal, and has been since the incident was first reported”.

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure David O’Byrne welcomed the investigation into the incident and said Labor would consider any recommendations “including any findings regarding design”.

“We have called previously for an independent investigation and trust the RSPCA is authorised to fully understand the circumstances and make recommendations to ensure this does not happen again,” he said.

“We encourage other members of the public that have had experiences, good and bad, with transporting their pets on TT-Line to come forward with information to assist the investigation.”

Mr O’Byrne said Minister for Infrastructure Jeremy Rockliff needed “to reassure Tasmanian travellers and tourists that the results of this investigation will be publicly released and recommendations implemented immediately”.

A government spokesperson said it understood TT-Line was “working with the affected owner to investigate the circumstances around the dog death”.

“I have been advised that DPIPWE and the RSPCA are aware of the matter and are considering it further,” they said.

Mr Lehmann said he was “more than angry” about the circumstances surrounding the death of his “best friend” Mook.

“I don’t want anybody else's animal to die on that boat,” he said.

The Examiner

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