Page 436 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 13 March 2007
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me that these officers have, as a core principle, the best interests of pet animals in the ACT at heart. It is often said that a place can be judged by how well it treats its people but I think it can also be judged by how well it treats its animals. I do not believe that any society or person which ill-treats or neglects animals is likely to be kind to its most vulnerable citizens. These amendments will bring the ACT’s Animal Welfare Act more closely into line with best practice animal welfare legislation around the world.
Mr Speaker, the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee must be thanked for its work. Members may remember that I was concerned that the government was not availing itself fully of the committee’s expertise, and had not brought the AWAC together. Now are now seeing that when the AWAC meets we get better outcomes for animals.
I would like to make some comments on particular aspects of the amendments to the act. I am pleased to see that it is being made very clear, by addition of an example, that it is not acceptable for people to leave dogs or any other animal in a closed car, particularly in hot weather. We know that young children are still being left in closed cars in hot weather. The conditions do not necessarily even have to be very hot for animals or children to suffer deleterious or life-threatening effects. Clearly some people do not understand the dangers. A person who would leave their child in that situation is likely to leave their dog in their car.
Mr Speaker, we cannot expect anyone to read this legislation in order to find out what new penalties apply. So I would like to make it very clear that the accompanying education campaign will make the difference here. This is probably something that is best done in partnership by the government and the RSPCA. I understand that the RSPCA is trying its best to get funding from the government for its education campaign. This is one example of how important that funding is. I believe it would be quite hypocritical of the government to pass this legislation if it does not support efforts by the RSPCA to carry out that all-important work of education.
I wonder whether the section on transport and containment includes taking a dog for a walk or exercise. It is generally believed that it is always good to walk one’s dog. However, I heard about someone who took their dog for a walk in the middle of the day during the recent spate of hot weather and the dog, which had been obviously pushed just too far, died from overheating. So, Mr Speaker, we cannot say that walking your dog is always going to be a good thing. It is not always kind to walk one’s dog. Again, education is going to be needed in respect of the appropriate times and places to walk canine pets. Exercise needs have to be balanced against wellbeing.
I thoroughly welcome the amendments to medical and surgical procedures. Cosmetic surgery on pets, without any therapeutic reason, will become unacceptable. Animals do not have the same measures of beauty as people do, and it is unfair of humans to impose their idea of canine or feline perfection on their pets. For instance, we know that dogs like to smell a particular way. However, I am pleased to see that, while the practice may not be acceptable to humans, the legislation does not outlaw the habit of dogs rolling on rotten bones or the faeces of other animals. Dogs, for example judge each other by behaviour and smell, not by the shape of their ears or the number of toes they have. They assess each other by whether their tail is up or down, and
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