Academics and students say they are "surprised and disappointed" with a sudden decision to stop the flow of dogs from a council pound to the University of Queensland (UQ) veterinary school.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman yesterday banned Brisbane City Council pounds from donating dogs destined for euthanasia to UQ.
The decision came just a week after he told brisbanetimes.com.au all councillors would have an opportunity to vote on the practice once council developed a policy.
Fourth-year UQ vet students have used the dogs - and others from Logan and Caboolture councils - since 2005 to learn basic surgical procedures, including spays, castrations and abdomen explorations.
Cr Newman placed a moratorium on Brisbane City Council participating in the program earlier this month after he learned of it through an animal rights group.
The council's family services and community committee last week heard the council would vote on a new policy when council officers had gathered enough information from the University of Queensland.
But in a sudden turn around, Cr Newman yesterday announced a complete ban, saying UQ had been unable to convince him the practice was ethically sound, despite nearly a month of talks with council officers.
"They have failed to demonstrate that they are dealing with the animals in an ethical and humane way and this saga has gone on for some time now," he said.
UQ Associate Professor Lucio Filippich said the school had co-operated with all of council's demands.
"We tried to do everything we could to meet any expectations of communication that the council wanted," Associate Professor Filippich said.
"I'm disappointed because I think we do have a good case.
"Unfortunately we've tried to work through the official channels rather than through the media, which maybe in retrospect was what I think we should have done."
Council officers also noted in a family and community services committee meeting last week that UQ had co-operated openly with the council on the matter.
But Cr Newman said Labor councillors were trying to score political points on the issue, which was "entirely inappropriate".
"This was brought in several years ago when Cr (Kerry) Rea was the chair," he said.
"We never heard about it, I never heard about it, she's obviously signed off on it and now I found out about it."
Ben Porter, a fourth-year student and Veterinary Science Student Association president, said he was disappointed with the decision.
"I think that the public needs to be aware that the the moratorium put in place by Cr Newman will not rescue these dogs from their destined euthanasia," Mr Porter said.
"These animals are destined to be euthanised by the shelter or by the university regardless.
"At least something beneficial comes out of the death of the dogs received by the university, unlike those at the pound which are simply euthanised and then disposed of."
Associate Professor Filippich said the school would not change its teaching methods.
"It means that we've got to look at how else we can source our dogs for our teaching," he said.
"We know that other universities don't use live animals and the reason for that is not because their alternatives are better but because welfare groups lobby and put their point of view across, which has nothing to do with the proper training of good veterinarians."