In the Media
March 24, 2008 by admin · 2 Comments
No more doggy in the window, says Moore
Sydney Morning Herald, Sunanda Creagh and Catharine Munro, October 19, 2007
CATS and dogs would be banned from pet shops under a radical proposal from the independent MP Clover Moore.
Ms Moore, famous for her dog-collar neckwear and the owner of two Staffordshire terriers, tabled a bill in Parliament yesterday calling for a crackdown on impulse buying of cats and dogs.
The bill came as the RSPCA renewed its call for mandatory desexing of cats and dogs across the country, saying 15,867 cats were abandoned in NSW in 2006-07 and less than 40 per cent were reclaimed. The rest are left to be put down.
“Many were abandoned because they were bought on impulse as cute puppies and kittens displayed in shops, but had unanticipated costs and responsibilities or were unwanted gifts,” Ms Moore said yesterday.
Under Ms Moore’s Animals (Regulation of Sale) Bill, cats, dogs and other mammals could only be bought from registered breeders, animal pounds and shelters or vets.
“Pet shops promote impulse buying and irresponsible breeding for profit,” the member for Sydney told Parliament.
The RSPCA and animal welfare groups have backed the plan, but the pet industry said it was unworkable and misguided.
“The RSPCA supports an end to the sale of pets in pet shops to prevent the euthanasia of hundreds of thousands of animals each year and to remove the market for cruel backyard breeding and puppy farms,” said Steve Coleman, the RSPCA NSW chief.
The chief executive of the Pet Industry Association of Australia, Colin Bransgrove, said pet shops were subject to controls and represented only 6 per cent of all dog and cat sales.
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/10/18/1192300954373.html
Report Pet Shop Abuse
March 16, 2008 by admin · 2 Comments
If you have seen a sick or underaged animal in a pet shop window then you have witnessed a crime. Please contact the RSPCA NSW on 9770 7555 and then email info@pawsforaction.com so we can document your experience.
The more incidents which we can report to NSW MPs the greater chance we have of proving that pet shop abuse is endemic to the industry.
If you work for a pet shop and have observed animal neglect or mistreatment please contact info@pawsforaction.com and your account will remain strictly annonymous.
The above photo is of an underweight kitten with conjunctivitis and the early stages of cat flu, for sale at Carlingford ‘Pets Paradise’. The kitten was later sold un-microchipped to a concerned member of the public who rushed the kitten to a vet.
Contact Paws For Action
March 2, 2008 by admin · 1 Comment
If you have any questions or comments please email info@pawsforaction.com
Please also contact us if you:
- Have any stories or experiences which you would like discuss or have published (we will respect your wishes and privacy)
- Have any information which may assist this campaign
- Work for a pet shop (this can be done anonymously)
- Know a backyard or commercial breeder
- Would like to help coordinate this campaign
Dedicated To
March 2, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
This site is dedicated to the animals who were not reclaimed by their families and were not able to be saved by a rescue group. The ones who no one came for. The ones who only appear now as a statistic. This campaign is for you.
Summary of the Bill
March 2, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
The object of this Bill is to protect the lives and well-being of dogs, cats and other mammals (but not livestock) as follows:
(a) by prohibiting the keeping for sale of mammals at shops or markets,
(b) by prohibiting the sale of mammals at shops or markets,
(c) by regulating the advertising or brokering of the sale of mammals from shops or markets,
(d) by regulating the publishing of any advertisement for the sale of mammals,
(e) by prohibiting the sale of mammals to children,
(f) by prohibiting the carrying on of a business of selling mammals, or propagating mammals for sale, by anyone other than a recognised breeder,
(g) by requiring any person who offers a mammal for sale to inform prospective purchasers of the special needs and requirements of the mammal,
(h) by requiring all mammals sold by animal shelters, council pounds and veterinary practices to be microchipped.
The Bill also amends other Acts and Regulations to make it an offence to fail to collect a mammal from a council pound, or to fail to either collect or surrender a companion animal at an animal shelter, after being notified that it is there.
Division 1 Offences concerning the sale of mammals at shops and markets
Clause 7 prohibits the keeping for sale of mammals at shops or markets.
Clause 8 prohibits the selling of mammals at or from shops or markets.
Clause 9 regulates the advertising of the sale of mammals at shops or markets. Such advertising is permitted only if the mammal is at an animal shelter, council pound or veterinary practice or is being cared for in a prescribed private home (that is, a private dwelling at which a person looks after lost, stray, abandoned or surrendered mammals for the purposes of providing refuge until those mammal can be claimed or sold by certain non-profit organisations).
Clause 10 regulates the brokering of the sale of mammals at or from shops or markets (by acting, or purporting to act, as an intermediary to negotiate and obtain the sale of a mammal). Such brokering is permitted only if the mammal is at an animal shelter, council pound or veterinary practice or is being cared for in a prescribed private home.
Clause 11 prohibits the publishing of advertisements for the sale of mammals except in certain circumstances.
Clause 12 prohibits the sale of mammals to children.
Clause 13 prohibits the carrying on of a business of selling dogs or cats, or propagating dogs or cats for sale, by anyone other than certain recognised breeders. The proposed section provides for the sale and propagation of other mammals to be included within the scope of the prohibition by the regulations.
Clause 14 requires anyone who displays a mammal for sale, or otherwise offers it for sale, to provide prospective purchasers with a written statement about the special needs and requirements of the mammal. If the mammal is sold, the purchaser must be provided with a written copy of the statement. The written statement covers such matters as the usual life-span of mammals of that species or breed, the minimum requirements for the humane shelter, accommodation, exercising and socialising of the mammal and the costs associated with feeding, registering and keeping the
mammal and obtaining veterinary care for the mammal.
Clause 15 requires mammals sold by an animal shelter, council pound or veterinary practice or breeder to be microchipped.
Clause 16 provides for the regulations to prescribe standards that are required to be complied with by recognised breeders and provides for the Minister to withdraw therecognition of a recognised breeder if the breeder fails to comply with the standards prescribed by the regulations.
Clause 17 provides that inspectors under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 may exercise powers under that Act if the inspector believes on reasonable grounds that a recognised breeder has failed to comply with any of the standards prescribed by the regulations.
Schedule 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 make amendments that are consequential on the fact that dogs and other mammals will no longer be permitted to be sold or kept for sale at pet shops.
Schedule 1.6 [1] makes it clear that the prohibition on abandoning animals set out in section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 includes dumping animals.
Schedule 1.6 [2] makes it an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 for a person to fail to collect or surrender an animal if the person is notified by the RSPCA, or another organisation that operates an animal shelter, that the animal has been taken or otherwise come into its possession.
How It Will Effect You
March 2, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
There are so many reasons why the Animals bill must be passed. From consumer rights, to the community, animal welfare and the environment, it will help to solve a great number of problems.
Here are just 4 simple reasons why:
1. Consumer Rights: Regulating the pet industry will create accountability and mandated standards of practice. At the moment this industry is making revenue at any cost, and everyday Australian’s are paying the price. The Animals bill promises to protect consumer rights. As a result people will be able to buy a pet freely, with the security of knowing that they have not been duped, or will later encounter avoidable problems.
2. Saving our tax money: It is really amazing that the pet industry has been allowed to operate unregulated for so long (not many industries are given this kind of freedom) at such an incredible cost to the community. Millions of dollars in tax payers money is spent anually in managing unwanted cats and dogs, seizing, impounding and in more cases than not – euthanasing them. In addition to this councils investigate noise and environmental pollution, plus neighbourhood disputes which result from irresponsible or uninformed pet owners. Many of these problems result from backyard breeding which the bill is committed to stopping.
3. Animal Welfare: It’s commonsense that if animals are rehomed ethically, the number of animals abandoned will decrease. Equally, if the customer is prepared for the responsibilities involved in owning a pet, their lives will be much happier. Yet it is not just what happens to the animal post-sale which gives cause for great concern, its where the animals come from, and their treatment while in the pet shop.
4. Wildlife: Abandoned undesexed cats often feed into populations of stray cats. Without intervention these cats will have litter after litter, and the ensuing generations can become feral. Stray and feral cats can impact vulnerable wildlife through predation. Regulating the pet industry will help people make informed choices and will better prepare them for living with pets. This will in turn help the environment and its native inhabbitants.
List of Pounds in NSW
March 2, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Sadly, tens of thousands of pets are brought to council pounds. They are either found by a ranger and impounded, or they are surrendered by their owner who no longer wants them. Either way, very few animals find their way out of a pound alive.
Please contact your local pound and find out how you can help. You may be able to volunteer and walk the dogs, keep them company or donate much needed bedding and food.
You might even like to speak to the manager and staff of your local pound and find out how they feel about the Animals Bill. It would be great to get their support. Remember to get them to voice this support to their MP!
Pounds in NSW
Albury City Council
Mudge Street, Lavington
Ph: 6025 9682
www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/property/animals/lost/index.htm
Blacktown Pound
Corner of the Great Western Highway and Flushcombe Road Prospect
Ph: 9839 6000.
Broken Hill RSPCA Shelter
South Road, Broken Hill NSW 2880
Ph: (08) 8087 7753 Ah: 0418 974 252
www.rspcansw.org.au/rspca-brokenhill.htm
Campbelltown Animal Care Facility
Rose Street (off Blaxland Road), Campbelltown
Ph: (02) 4628 3044
Ah: (02) 9963 1621
www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/default.asp?iDocID=2029&iNavCatID=927&iSubCatID=1125
Glen Innes Severn Council Pound
Saleyards road, Glen Innes
Ph: 02 6732 2611
http://severn.local-e.nsw.gov.au/
Goulburn Pound
The Council’s rangers may be contacted on 4823 4409.
The Pound’s telephone number is 4821 1904.
Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter
10 Mulgrave Road, Mulgrave NSW 2756
Ph: (02) 4577 4435
www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/files/20581/File/DogsOfTheWeek.pdf
Lithgow City Council
Mort Street, Lithgow
Ph: 02 6352 1077 or you can ring the Ranger on 0419 167 376
www.lithgow.com/council/env_newpet.html
Moruya Pound
Ph: (02) 4474 1019 or rangers@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au
Oberon Council Pound
Any enquiries for animals at Oberon Pound should be directed to 6336 0463
The Animal Control contact number is 6336 0463 and all enquiries should be directed to this number. Please leave a message and the Rangers will get back to you.
Oberon Street, OBERON NSW 2787
PO Box 84, OBERON 2787
02 6336 1100
www.oberon.nsw.gov.au
Queanbeyan Council Pound
Old Sydney Road, Queanbeyan NSW 2620 -
Ph: (02) 6298 0269
www.qcc.nsw.gov.au/page.aspx?page=113
Renbury Farm Animal Shelter
406 Bringelly Rd, Austral
Ph: 02 9606 6118
www.renbury.com.au
Sutherland Shire Animal Shelter (No Kill Shelter)
Production Road, Taren Point
Ph: 02 9710 0401 Ah: 02 9710 0333
www.sutherland.nsw.gov.au/ssc/home.nsf/Web+Pages/D2A4ADA1AB7C94B4CA2570110012E996?OpenDocument
Wagga Wagga Pound
Ph: 02 69329051
Yass Pound
Ph: 02 6226 1477
PO Box 6, YASS
www.yass.nsw.gov.au/planning/2017.html
Download the Poster
March 2, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
By downloading and putting this poster up on your community or work notice board, in cafes or other businesses, you will be helping to spread the word.
The Animals (Regulation of Sale) Bill will greatly improve the welfare of companion animals in NSW, and we need to get it passed.
But it will not happen without community support and action. This poster will inform people and help them to be a part of the solution. Please spread it far and wide!
Click Here to Download the Poster: pawsforaction-poster.pdf
Download Pamplets
March 2, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
We have created two pamplets – one is designed to be given to the public and the other is for your MP.
Pamphlet for the General Public
Not many people have the time or ability to hand out pamphlets to people. So what we suggest is that you print the pamphlet (it is black/white and fits two to a page) and strategically leave them in public places…!
Some ideas:
• Leave some with a café or shop whose owners support the passing of the Bill
• Leave a copy of the pamphlet on a train or bus seat
• Leave a copy in a doctor or dentist waiting room
• If you belong to a community group, see if you can include a copy of the pamphlet in the next newsletter or publication
Think creatively! The more people directed to this site, the more letters will be sent to the MPs, and the more seriously they will take the voting.
At every step, think of the animals who so desperately need us to protect them and provide them with their basic needs.
Click here to download the pamphlet:
pamphlet-for-public-support.pdf
Pamphlet for your MP
This pamphlet was designed to provide your MP with quick and un-emotive reasons why they should vote in favour of the Animals (Regulation of Sale) Bill.
If you have the opportunity to meet with your MP or visit their offices please bring a copy with you.
Click her to download the Pamphlet:
Download the Petition
March 2, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Please print off this petition to stop the sale of mammals in pet shops. Each signature collected is a powerful way of telling our Government that there is great public support for the Animals (Regulation of Sale) Bill.
Australia in a nation of animal lovers – we have highest rate of pet ownership in the world with more than 63% of households living with pets. Now is the time to demonstrate this love, by defending their basic needs and protecting them from neglect and abandonment.
Each sitting in Parliament Clover Moore presents pages of signatures in support for the regulation of the sale of pets. The more people who sign, the more pressure there will be to listen.