Post by Brooke on Feb 14, 2004 20:24:14 GMT -5
Plan to shame cruel animal owners
By Chris Tinkler
15feb04
A NATIONAL register of pet owners, microchips for all dogs and cats and tougher disclosure rules for the use of animals in research are part of a radical plan for animal welfare reform.
People convicted of animal welfare offences will have to submit to a new "shame" register and states will have uniform dangerous dogs laws.
Mandatory quality assurance standards for farms, cattle transport time limits and tough circus restrictions are also on the agenda.
The National Animal Welfare Strategy is being developed to provide a framework for the introduction of uniform controls throughout Australia on animal cruelty, safety and care.
The strategy will go to the Federal Government for approval in April, with specific initiatives expected to be drawn up from May.
Reform flagged in the draft strategy, out for public comment until tomorrow, will impact on everyone from pet owners to farmers, vets and researchers, to zoo, rodeo and circus operators.
Several priorities have been identified by members on the National Consultative Committee for Animal Welfare, set up by the Government to draw up the draft strategy.
Some of the specific initiatives expected to be pushed include a plan to fit all dogs with microchips, with a national register of owners so lost pets can easily be returned and owners who abandon animals traced and punished.
Consultative committee member Glenys Oogjes said microchipping was mandatory only in some states.
"It is already an offence in most states to abandon an animal but you cannot tie that offence to someone if you cannot find the owner," Ms Oogjes, executive director of Animals Australia said.
"Hopefully this would be one of the more straight-forward initiatives."
A similar scheme for cats could follow, she said.
Standardised national rules and penalties for animal cruelty will also be on the agenda, along with an offenders' register so dog breeders convicted of cruelty could not jump states to stay in business.
There also could be a common law on dangerous dogs to end differences between states.
"In my view it should be about the animal's deed, not its breed, but there needs to be a national discussion to look at these issues and a standard developed," Ms Oogjes said.
Quality assurance programs are mooted for farms, to ensure agricultural animals are treated well and handlers are properly trained, with independent inspectors checking compliance.
Rodeos across Australia could be forced to provide vets on site, and calf roping could be banned, as is the case in Victoria.
Uniform circus laws requiring all operators to be registered, setting standards for enclosure sizes, the provision of exercise and shelter and transportation times, are another priority.
A national maximum time limit for the transportation of agricultural stock has been mooted.