LET’S TALK ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE … FOR PETS!

Dumped doggies and castaway kitties, coping with the cat crisis to the case for creating canines – all this and more will be on the agenda at the inaugural AAWS08 International Animal Welfare Conference

They are our closest living animal companions; they grow with us, share our homes, become part of the family, and help teach us important lessons about life, love, death and compassion.

Yet it’s not often we stop to think about the welfare of companion animals in the community.
Australians have one of the highest levels of pet ownership in the world; but unwanted animals are still surrendered to shelters in their thousands, with the less fortunate subject to abuse and neglect.

Australians require no training, license or permit to keep many kinds of pet, and most states have no enforceable code of practice for their care and housing.

Think about the family dog that is left alone in the backyard for ten hours each day; the stray and hungry cat on the street to which everyone turns a blind eye; the bird that lives its entire life in a small cage, unable to ever stretch its wings and fly; a solitary horse in its paddock day after day.

Are our pets being routinely kept in conditions that don’t meet their physical and behavioural needs, and could therefore be considered cruel?

At the International Animal Welfare Conference, long-time RSPCA Victoria President Dr Hugh Wirth will talk about modern approaches to dealing with the complex issue of animal abandonment.

Canberra-based vet and Chair of the Australian Veterinary Association’s Centre for Companion Animals in the Community Dr Michael Hayward will discuss the complicated legal framework that applies to the care and management of companion animals.

Executive Officer of the Cat Protection Society Dr Carole Webb will deliver a presentation on the successful ‘Who’s for cats?’ campaign, which is addressing the problem of cat overpopulation in Victoria and which is now being expanded into other states.

Dr Gaille Perry from the Delta Society Australia will explore the various methods and exercises used in basic and competition dog obedience training, and discuss the welfare implication of each style – from positive reinforcement to negative punishment, clicker training, ‘dog whispering’ and so on.

Chief Executive Officer of the RNZSPCA Robyn Kippenberger is also visiting from over the Tasman to talk about the ‘One of the Family’ education initiative that is teaching New Zealand’s school children about positive and compassionate attitudes to animals.

Also making the journey from NZ is Prof Kevin Stafford, examining the human-animal bond and the evolution of our relationship and interactions with animals over many centuries.

The AAWS08 International Animal Welfare Conference will be held on the Gold Coast from 31 Aug—3Sept (visit www.daff.gov.au/aaws08).

To arrange interviews with speakers or request a media pass to the conference, contact Jane Speechley: jane@charismaticcommunications.com.au or 0414 354 928.