Public comment is sought until 29 April 2011
You can read through the proposed Code at http://bit.ly/codeofpractice
All submissions on the proposed Code must be in writing and should be sent to:
animal.welfare@dpi.vic.gov.au
or
The Code Review Project Officer,
Bureau of Animal Welfare,
475 Mickleham Road,
Attwood,
Victoria, 3049
We’ve included a suggested response below.
Code Review Project Officer
Bureau of Animal Welfare
475 Mickleham Road
Attwood Victoria 3049
animal.welfare@dpi.vic.gov.au
28 April 2011
Dear Sir / Madam
PROPOSED CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DOGS AND CATS IN SHELTERS AND POUNDS (REVISION 1)
I am very concerned with the content of above proposed Code of Practice. The proposed Code seems to miss the mark in managing dogs and cats on shelters and pounds across the board for the following reasons:
The gaping omission regarding what pounds and shelters must do to increase animals being reunited with owners
The second gaping omission regarding what pounds and shelters must do to reduce kill rates in accordance with community expectations
The new restrictions on foster programs making them almost unworkable (time limits, vet costs, behaviourist costs, auditing of foster carers homes by authorised officers, etc)
That unweaned animals are not permitted to be hand-fed to facilitate their survival
The exclusion of healthy adoptable pets from shelter run foster care programs
The allowing of killing companion animals via gunshot
The restrictions on animals allowed for “resale” (barking and escaping are often environmental issues not the dogs fault. In any case such claims of barking and escaping are often simply an excuse for some who just want to save face when surrendering their animal)
The allowing of animals to be sent to research institutions
All of the above items in the proposed Code will only increase the numbers of animals killed in pounds. This is not how the Community wants companion animals treated.
I strongly request that this Code is not approved in its current form and that a new CoP can be developed reflecting the Community’s expectations on proactive measures to reform the pound and shelter system and reduce kill rates.
Yours faithfully
Your Name
Your Address
Foster carers are needed and should be greatly supported as they have saved many dogs, cats etc which were to be euthanaised but instead ended up being placed in loving homes and are very happy today. Those responsible for assessing an animal to see if they are rehomeable should be the ones assessed as there are many dogs and cats that have been killed which could have been rehomed (all animals suffer/stress in pounds) so how can someone assess them in that state. Australia needs to have a NO KILL POLICY and a strong measure on breeding. A dog and cat should not be bred every year manybe 2-3 times in it’s life. This would solve many problems and the government needs to take action here because this is the ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. There are MANY rehoming services around Australia trying to save these poor cats and dogs yet so many still fall and are euthanaised WHY because there are far too many greedy people breeding and not for the love of the animal but for the love of the $$$’s if this was controlled, there would not be so many dogs and cats abandoned and killed. These poor animals are not only abandoned but lose their live because of peoples greed. I say Foster carers are needed until the government wakes up and takes stronger action AGAINST PUPPY BREEDERS (when there will be no more animals in pounds). Why is this so hard to do ?? AUSTRALIA NEEDS TO STOP THIS KILLING and have a “NO KILL POLICY” this is a barbaric act against our best friends and to show the rest of the world we are civilised.
The answer is not to regulate foster carers or, god forbid, reduce the already meagre level of support provided to animals. Surely, it makes more sense to ensure that animals can only be adopted through these shelters rather than through private measures or puppy farms. It makes no sense at all to try to regulate the goodwill of thousands of individuals who give their time, energy and funds to care for animals in need? Wake up and tackle the causal issues rather than trying to ‘band aid’ what is only deemed a problem because of gross mismanagement of the issue in the first place. This ill-thought plan to regulate foster care for animals goes completely against the grain of what should be encouraged in society – the care of those who cannot care for themselves. I am shocked to know that the party I have voted for all my life would even consider trying to legislate this. If we want to grow a compassionate society, surely we have to begin with those who have no voice!