Australia Behind in Animal Law

G'day Dog Lovers,

US law experts believe that the development of laws for the protection and welfare of animals is considerably behind in Australia. Check out this link to find out more - http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/blogs/top_stories/archive/2009/04/22/australia-behind-on-animal-law.aspx

This ties in well with an article in our current issue on whether the punishment for animal cruelty in Australia fits the crime. Pick up a copy of our latest issue to read this story.

What do you think? Should we introduce harsher penalties for those who commit crimes against animals or are our laws already tough enough?

Victoria's Proposed Dog Laws

G'day Dog Lovers,

Have you heard about the proposed changes to Victoria's dangerous dog laws?

If these changes come into effect, council rangers will be able to kill unregistered dangerous dogs found roaming the streets, and owners will not have the right to appeal. Fines will also increase for owners who do not register their restricted breeds of dogs or who breach the terms of registration.

Premier John Brumby told reporters "This is a stronger policy, it's a tougher policy, there will be appeal rights that will be removed so the power will be in the hands of councils to make sure they can deal with dangerous dogs that reoffend or restricted breeds that are not complying with the terms of their registration."

We at Dogs Life have for years been complaining about the ineffectiveness of breed specific legislation (check out our March/April 2010 issue for more details) and these proposed changes are particularly worrying.

The prospect of giving council rangers the power to make a life or death decision about dogs puts the power in the hands of one person. What about a fair trial?

And what about the difficulty associated with identifying a dangerous or restricted breed? A couple of years ago I undertook a 2-day course on dog breed identification run by Dogs NSW - most of the other course attendees were council rangers. One of the activities we did was to look at photographs of mixed-breed dogs and try to identify which breeds were present in their make-up. Each photo threw up a range of different suggestions for contributing breeds from everyone in the class and even the experts had trouble agreeing on some photos. This was a perfect demonstration of how difficult it can be to identify dog breeds - so how can we give councils the power to put down a dog just because they think it looks like a dangerous breed?

Lawyers For Animals have put together a detailed response to the proposed laws here - http://lawyersforanimals.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/lfa-dangerous-dogs-bill-submn-24-5-10.pdf It's definitely worth reading.

What do you think about the proposed changes?

Licensing For Dog Owners

G'day Dog Lovers,

I've heard plenty of people say that you should need a licence to take on the responsibility of dog ownership, but has anyone ever given the idea much thought? I think licensing dog owners would be a great way to ensure that Aussie dogs are looked after.

Think about it - so many dogs are dumped because their owners didn't fully understand what they were getting themselves into when they got a dog. They may get bored with their pet, fail to feed or exercise it properly, or not provide the love and attention every dog deserves. So, sadly, they abandon their dog. In order to get a dog licence, prospective owners would have to undergo education to get a full understanding of the overall commitment owning a dog involves.

This would also put a stop to poorly-trained, unsocialised dogs acting aggressively, and would get rid of irresponsible owners who don't clean up after their pooch or don't keep it on a leash when in public.

What do you think? Should people be forced to get a licence to own a dog?

Dangerous Dogs

G'day Dog Lovers,

With the latest attack by a Pit Bull Terrier over the weekend, the media is once again starting to work itself into a frenzy over Dangerous Dogs laws. Hugh Wirth, President of RSPCA Victoria, has called for a national approach to eliminating breeds classified as dangerous.

He says that laws in all states aimed at controlling and eventually eliminating such breeds were failing and being openly flouted by illegal breeders, who were selling dangerous dogs across state borders. "They are still being bred, which is illegal, and still being openly advertised for sale," he told The Australian.

Wirth went on to claim that the failure of dangerous dog laws meant states should now consider banning Pit Bulls, which would mean the mass euthanisation of all such dogs in Australia, he said.

That is a pretty alarming statement and I definitely don't think it's the right way to go about reducing dog attacks. Whatever happened to "punish the deed not the breed"? Are there any owners of breeds out there who have a reputation (whether deserved or not) as being dangerous that are worried their breed will be next?

We Want To Hear From You!

G'day Dog Lovers,

We want to know what you think are the most important and controversial issues in the canine world. What issues and debates are going to have the biggest influence on the future of dog ownership in Australia?
- Should puppies be sold in pet shops?
- Is breed-specific legislation effective?
- How can we stop the growing number of abandoned animals?
- How do we tackle the growing problem of pet obesity?
- How can we eliminate puppy mills?
- Are purebred dogs being bred with genetic health problems?
Write to us and let us know what you think. Your opinion could be published in a future issue of Dogs Life and help shape the future of dogs in Australia. Email your views to dogslife@universalmagazines.com.au

Secondly, we also want to hear stories about your dog. What’s the cleverest thing he’s ever done? What’s the silliest? Has he ever done anything brave or do you have any stories of funny doggy mischief? We’d love to hear from you, and your story could be published in the magazine. Email your stories to dogslife@universalmagazines.com.au

Save Bruce

G'day Dog Lovers,

Breed specific legislation (BSL) is always a controversial issue in the dog world and it's no different in the case of an Irish dog named Bruce. Bruce is a pitbull-cross who was taken from his family around two years ago under BSL. He never bit or attacked anyone, he did absolutely nothing wrong, but Bruce has been held captive by the Irish SPCA for almost 24 months simply because he is a pitbull cross.

Sadly, Bruce is in imminent danger of being euthanised, so an urgent campaign has been started to try to save this poor dog's life. For more information on how you can help Bruce, go to http://www.examiner.com/x-1513-Philadelphia-Dog-Advocate-Examiner~y2009m7d2-URGENT-Bruce-the-pit-bull-needs-your-intervention

What do you think about BSL? Is it effective at stopping dog attacks? Or is it simply a cruel and unsuccessful approach? Shouldn't we ban the deed, not the breed?

Blind man and his guide dog barred from cafe

Hi pet lovers!

Have you all heard about the cafe manager in Highgate, WA, who turned away a blind man and his guide dog last week? If not, click here for the full story…

A representative from Guide Dogs WA has since contacted the café proprietor to explain that guide dogs are allowed in all public places and refusing entry to a person with an impairment is an offence under the Equal Opportunities Act.

However, when contacted by the Guardian Express, a community newspaper in WA, the owner said that he was not aware of the incident and denied that he had spoken to anyone from Guide Dogs WA.

Damien Andreou, the man who was turned away from the café, has also decided to take matter further, contacting his local member and lodging a complaint with the Equal Opportunities Commission. “I’m not coming forward because I want compensation, I just don’t want this happening to other visually impaired people,” Andreou told the Guardian Express. “Jenkins has enabled me to live an independent life and it feels like a slap in the face when this is denied me.”

Do you know of anyone who has been in a similar situation? We’d love to hear your stories or general thoughts…

Dogs in Strata Units

G'day Dog Lovers,

I just got an email from a reader asking for some free legal advice on living with a dog in strata units...so I thought I'd put it up here and see if anyone could help.

Julie writes: "I wanted to ask a question on your dog blog about keeping dogs in strata units. The Body Corporate have refused to let me have a dog even though I have a garden and there are cats allowed in the block. Someone has suggested I go for a companion animal registration as I am so much happier when a dog is around and also I can take the dog to work now. I wanted to get some free legal advice if possible on how to go about this and thought one of your readers might help me."

Well, there you have it. Has anyone been in a similar situation to Julie? Can you offer any advice to help out a fellow dog-lover?

Problem Barkers

G'day Dog Lovers,

You might have heard in the news recently that Brisbane City Council is testing dog collars designed to identify problem barkers. This move came about after some 11,500 complaints about barking dogs over the past two years.

Here's the rest of the article from news.com.au - http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24019986-3102,00.html

Community Services councillor Geraldine Knapp said the council still had to evaluate the results of the trials but anticipated a favourable outcome."I think they are a fantastic idea and I think that's the way everyone is going to go," she said.

The collars keep track of the barking and whether further action is warranted. That could include dog obedience classes or, in extreme cases, removal. Cr Knapp said she was confident the collars would prove effective in reducing complaints.

Ipswich City Council also is investigating if the collars have legal status."If it works legally, the days of bad barking dogs are numbered," Mayor Paul Pisasale said. "The collars won't stop the dogs barking, but they provide irrefutable evidence so owners can take the necessary steps to control their dogs' barking. "They also can prove that frivolous or vexatious complaints are false."

What do you think about the collars?

Potential tragedy

Over the weekend, we went to a BBQ at our local park. My preschooler had the best day with her friends, sliding, jumping, running, swinging and rolling in the sandpit. Unfortunately, we had to leave our two Dobermanns at home as dogs were not allowed at the park.

However, we did have a four-legged intruder - a beautiful Husky without a collar and ID tag. He sniffed around the food, the kids and then ran into a nearby field where a group of young people were playing ball. He seemed to be harmless as he raced around - like he was having the best day of its life.

And then I saw what I have been warning to my family and friends about - a simple act that can end in tragedy! A woman walked up to the Husky with her wobbly toddler and extended the child's hands out to pet the dog. I held my breath and made a silent prayer that this dog would not bite out of fear or self defence. I mean come on, a tall stranger and a clumsy little person suddenly appears out of nowhere and attempts to touch its head! Wouldn't you be taken by surprise? For dogs that have not been raised around kids, this confrontation can be a very scary experience and its first reaction can be a nasty snarl and a bite.

And then we blame the dog and ban the breed! That's a real tragedy.

And the woman? Because officials have blamed the dog and ignored her actions, she would continue to pet dogs on the street and teach her child to do the same. The cycle continues...

One million people think animals matter!

I just received a very exciting email from Margaret West of WSPA - the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

Some of you may already be familiar with the Animals Matter petition for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations. The goal of the petition is to help integrate animal welfare into the UN agenda and put a stop to animal cruelty worldwide.

I'm thrilled to let you know that this petition has just received more than one million signatures.

If you haven't yet signed the Animals Matter petition, you can do so by clicking here. And be sure to tell all your friends, family and colleagues about the petition so they can add their names too. Tell our government that animals matter to you and help WSPA achieve the 10 million signature goal.

Petition to ban puppy mills in Australia

I receive an email from a Dogs Life reader, Julia-Anne, who has started a petition to ban puppy mills and backyard breeding. She started the petition after hearing about the seizure of more than 100 dogs in appalling conditions from Waterford Boarding Kennels and Cattery in Brisbane property, in January. I am waiting to hear back from the RSPCA for an update on the dogs and if they have found homes.

I am sure Julia-Anne is not alone in her sadness and anger about the way these poor dogs have been treated. If you also want to fight against puppy mills and backyard breeding, you can sign her petition:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/save-our-animals-ban-puppy-mills-in-aus

Animal Welfare Special

The Dogs Life March/April 2008 edition is out this week, prompting many emails to Dogs Life about the Animal Welfare Special.

I am so touched by many of your letters - it is thrilling to read how inspired you are about writing to your Minister and state Attorney General. Tell them about your concern for the protection your state laws give to animals and about the lenient sentences handed down by Courts to people who have been convicted of crimes against animals. If you would like a sample letter, email dogslife@universalmagazines.com.au

You can help to make a difference to the lives of many animals!

Photo by RSPCA Australia

The REAL fashion victims

Millions of animals face cruel and often violent treatment each year and are needlessly killed for their fur to fuel the fashion industry and fur trade.

A recent Humane Society International (HSI) investigation documented scenes of graphic cruelty, where cats and dogs were slaughtered for the manufacture of fur clothing and accessories sold worldwide.

In 2000, the United State Congress and Australian Government made a decision to ban the import of dog and cat fur. But the European Parliament did not decide to ban the import of dog and cat fur until December 31, 2008.

Still - millions of foxes, rabbits and other furbearers are killed and exploited for their fur.

If you're against fur in fashion, then registration is now open for the Design Against Fur 2008 poster design competition.

The competition, open to young people from across the globle, requires design students to create posters that will encourage compassion for the 50 million animals killed for their fur every year.

The posters should clearly express the message that it is cruel and unnecessary to raise and kill beautiful, innocent animals for their fur - a message that I feel very strongly about. It it is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE for our most loyal and trusted, four-legged companions to be treated as commodities for the fur trade and fashion industry.

I urge you all to use your creative skills for a grrreat cause! Let's all work together to have the cruel and brutal fur industry abolished worldwide.

Before you get started, visit http://infurmation.com/daf/2007/daf07.html to check out some of last year's winners.

And for more information on how you can register for Design Against Fur 2008, visit http://www.infurmation.com/daf/2008/daf08.html

Registration closes April 11and entries are to be submitted by April 25. Entries should be addressed to: Shely Bryan, Design Against Fur Europe & International, Humane Society International, PO Box 439, Avalon NSW 2107.

Winning students will receive cash prizes and have their work promoted on various international websites. And don't miss the #90 July/August 2008 edition of Dogs Life magazine, where will will publish this year's winning entry from the Europe & International region (including Australia and New Zealand).

What are your thoughts on the use of fur in fashion? Share your fur-free messages here.

Goodbye champ!

You may have heard today about the death of Go Bronco the Greyhound in Sydney. Go Bronco was in a car which apparently got stolen over the weekend - shortly after a successful race - while his owner was picking up a bite to eat from a shop nearby.

According to news reports, thieves dumped the station wagon in Glebe with the dog inside. Thanks to a tip-off a couple days later, police found Go Bronco in Glebe - he was distressed and lying limp from heat exposure and dehydration. He arrived at Annandale Animal Hospital half dead. Vets did all they could to save him, but clotting became a problem. Go Bronco died yesterday around 5pm.

In the past three issues, Dogs Life has featured a series of articles on Greyhounds - their life from puppyhood to racing dog to retirement through the Greyhound Adoption Program. I have learned so much about these beautiful dogs and it breaks my heart that Go Bronco had to suffer like this.

I am disgusted by the actions of those thieves. If it was up to me, I would take them to jail and then turn off the air condition in their cell to see how it feels to suffocate in the heat of a locked cage.

Animal abuse in Australia - how can we help stop it?

Yesterday, Caroline and I were horrified to read about a huge case of animal neglect and abuse at a boarding kennel south of Brisbane, Queensland. More than 100 dogs were discovered at the kennel, including Poodles, Labradors and Pomeranians. The dogs later were seized from the property where they had been living in 'horrendous' and 'abysmal' conditions.

RSPCA spokesperson Michael Beatty told the Sydney Morning Herald that this was one of the worst cases of neglect that RSPCA inspectors have ever seen.

It's hard to fathom how or why someone could stand by and watch animals suffer in such conditions. But sadly, the RSPCA still receives hundreds of animal abuse complaints each year. In fact, RSPCA inspectors in Queensland alone have received 441 complaints of animal cruelty or breach of duty of care since January 1 this year.

You can help the RSPCA by reporting acts of animal cruelty or neglect. If you are concerned for the welfare of an animal, please contact your local state or territory RSPCA immediately.

Australian Capital Territory: (02) 6287 8100
New South Wales: (02) 9770 7555
South Australia: (08) 8231 6931
Victoria: (03) 9224 2222
Darwin Regional Branch: (08) 8984 3795
Queensland: (07) 3426 9999
Tasmania: (03) 6326 6333
Western Australia: (08) 9209 9300

The Dogs Life team calls upon state and territory governments to strengthen their prevention of cruelty to animals legislation and to increase penalties for those who are guilty of animal abuse.

While some improvements have been made in recent times, we believe that much more needs to be done to legally protect the welfare of animals in Australia.

Do you agree with us? Should Australia have harsher penalties for people found guilty of animal abuse? Tell us what you think.

More Off-lead Parks!

I just found out that Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, is proposing about 30 parks and reserves to be added to the present 20-something areas where dogs are allowed off-lead. RSPCA is backing the plan.

This is the best news I've heard in a long time! In fact, just yesterday I was corresponding via email with a reader concerned about the lack of pet friendly places, including the increasing laws banning dogs in our neighbourhood parks. These laws make it challenging to enjoy the company of your dog in a fun and enriching environment!

I'm sure Clover Moore's proposal will be like a breath of fresh air to many dog lovers, especially those who live in city apartments! Plus, time restrictions - which allow dogs off-lead before 8am and after 6pm- could also be scrapped! (Fido will be happy to go for a run in the park after mummy and daddy return home late from work!)

The Mayor assures the proposal will not lead to dogs being out of control. She says dog owners will still be required to keep their pets under control and the city will take enforcement action, otherwise. I am personally happy about this proposal, but I can't help but think about the small percentage of irresponsible pet owners who don't care about their dog's behaviour when in an off-leash area. You know, the owner of the Labrador (as friendly and cute as the dog can be) that wags his tail and walks straight onto your picnic blanket and spills your juice, steps into your food and frustrates everyone, including your dog who may feel protective and react inhospitably to the intrusion.

I hope that with this wonderful proposal comes an increased push to educate dog owners about doggy park etiquette. Come to think of it, we have a great article on the topic in Dogs Life! (Remember the #81 Jan/Feb 2007 edition?)

Clover Moore's plan is open for public to comment until February 1. Your dog can't talk. Make your voice heard!

Animal cruelty - what if it's close to home?

Warning: readers may find this blog distressing.

I received an email from an animal shelter volunteer about a kitten that came to the shelter as the sole survivor of a terrible crime of cruelty. The kitten had been surrendered by an anonymous caller who apparently witnessed her uncle kill the other kittens from the litter by running over them with his car. She managed to save one of the kittens, but did not want to report him.

I don't know what has happened since - did this woman report her uncle or decide to hide his crime? This man may just get away with murder.

But what would you do if the person torturing an animal is your relative?

Be a voice for the animals at the ballot box on November 24

As most of Dogs Life's readers in Australia will know, the Federal Election will take place this Saturday, November 24.

I just received an email from Voiceless, the fund for animals, that I would like to bring to everyone's attention.

The Voiceless team is encouraging all voters, before voting in the election on Saturday, to consider using their vote to bring about positive change for animals.

So, I urge all of you to ask your local candidates where they stand on animal welfare issues - such as the live export trade or factory farming.

To help you make a decision, be sure to check out Voiceless's Federal Election Survey. This will give you a quick summary of where the major parties stand on animal protection issues.

This Saturday, be a voice for the animals at the ballot box.

[Photo by Jenny Moore]

Should we ban the sale of animals in pet shops?

[Photo by Animax]


Sydney's Lord Mayor, Clover Moore MP, wants to introduce a law to ban the sale of animals in pet shops because too many pets are being put down due to 'impulse purchases'. Dog lovers pass by the window and fall in love with the cute "take me home" puppy face, without thinking about the zillion responsibilities of caring for a dog for its entire life. When reality hits home, often these innocent dogs become unwanted and then dumped at the pound. Not a good start to life, is it?

If the Bill is successful and markets and pet shops no longer permit to sell companion animals, Clover Moore says we might see a decreasing of demand for puppy milling and consequently a reduction of the number of animals dumped and needlessly destroyed. But what if it doesn't? Puppy farms breed hundreds of dogs a year and often sell puppies cheaper than in pet stores. Qualified dog breeders will advise to check out the puppy's parents to make sure they don't carry any genetic diseases. If you're lucky to see the parents at a puppy farm, it will most likely be the sorry sight of a heavily pregnant bitch waiting to birth the next of many litters.

I'm not sure if banning the sale of animals in pet shops is the answer to unwanted dogs. People need to be educated by animal health and behaviour experts. If people cannot find dogs in pet shops and do not wish to go to a puppy farm, then they will consider doing it themselves at home!

As editor of Dogs Life magazine, I regularly meet people who want to breed at home "for fun". They will find a "suitable mate" (not sure what that means because when I ask them about hereditary diseases, I generally get a blank look), and when the puppies are born, they will keep one, Aunt Rose and Uncle Benny are ready to take two, and a few friends have put their hands up. Let's assume all have thought about the lifelong responsibility of dog ownership - including forking out hundreds of dollars a year for ongoing veterinary, food and related bills.

But what if the birth goes wrong? I remember receiving an email, that their dog had gone into labour overnight, and how long was too long to wait for the puppies to come out? The email came over a Friday night and it was Monday morning by the time I responded - call your vet ASAP!! I never heard back so I don't know if there were in fact any serious complications.

When people who are not qualified to breed take such risks, they are sometimes faced with an unhappy ending. The puppies die and the mother suffers a horrible and painful death.

Not fun anymore is it?