Vets And Confidentitality

[Cosmolo]

Does a vet have any obligation to report a dog/ owner if-

the dog is being neglected/ mistreated?

the dog is dangerous in some way and owner ignores advice to muzzle the dog in public. (assuming vet knows first hand the dogs issues and has seen dog outside veterinary clinic environment)

the owner is not meeting legislational requirements like registering micro chipping etc?

Just interested in the legal obligations.

[shmoo]

Does a vet have any obligation to report a dog/ owner if-

the dog is being neglected/ mistreated?

Kinda..I'd say its up to them if they want to report.. but they do have to act.

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT 1979 - SECT 26AA

Powers of veterinary practitioners to destroy animals

26AA Powers of veterinary practitioners to destroy animals

(1) Where, in the opinion of a veterinary practitioner:

(a) an animal is so severely injured, so diseased or in such a physical condition that it is cruel to keep it alive, and

(b) the animal is not about to be destroyed, or is about to be destroyed in a manner that will inflict unnecessary pain upon the animal,

the veterinary practitioner may:

© take possession of the animal,

(d) remove the animal to such place as the veterinary practitioner thinks fit, and

(e) destroy the animal, or cause it to be destroyed, in a manner that causes it to die quickly and without unnecessary pain.

(2) The reasonable costs incurred by a veterinary practitioner in the exercise of the powers conferred upon the veterinary practitioner by subsection (1) in respect of an animal may be recovered from the owner of the animal as a debt in a court of competent jurisdiction by the veterinary practitioner.

[shmoo]

or you might find something here:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/con...act/vpa2003215/

[Erny]

Does a vet have any obligation to report a dog/ owner if-

the dog is being neglected/ mistreated?

As to the above, I expect there would be some sort of obligation - perhaps search AVA codes of conduct. (I tried to get to their website, but there are server errors - either that, or because I'm not a Vet access to me is blocked.)

the dog is dangerous in some way and owner ignores advice to muzzle the dog in public. (assuming vet knows first hand the dogs issues and has seen dog outside veterinary clinic environment)

the owner is not meeting legislational requirements like registering micro chipping etc?

As to the above, IMO that's about the law and dog-owners requirements to observe them. Unless the law prescribes that Vets are the appointed policing agents for breaches in these areas of the Act, then I wouldn't think they would be "obliged" to report.

But "obligation" and "confidentiality" I think could be considered as two different things here. I'm not sure if you are asking if Vets have to report breaches of the law, or whether you are asking if they are not allowed to report breaches due to vet/patient confidentiality.

[Cosmolo]

Would be handy to have the answer to both of those questions erny

[Staff'n'Toller]

You can try the Animal Welfare Bureau.

Vets aren't under any obligation to report un-registered or un-microchipped pets AFAIK. Chipped dogs that are unregistered in Vic will get caught with the agreement the owner signs on the chip form, eventually, but it's up to local councils to ask CAR for instance, for full records of chipped animals in their municipality.

Most Vets with any morals would report a neglected or mistreated dog but we have to report to RSPCA, then risk the owners working out who reported them. It's a balancing act between never seeing the client again or taking the softly softly approach and trying to educate.

I'm not sure about dogs that are a risk due to their behaviour.

[Black Bronson]

You can try the Animal Welfare Bureau.

Vets aren't under any obligation to report un-registered or un-microchipped pets AFAIK. Chipped dogs that are unregistered in Vic will get caught with the agreement the owner signs on the chip form, eventually, but it's up to local councils to ask CAR for instance, for full records of chipped animals in their municipality.

Most Vets with any morals would report a neglected or mistreated dog but we have to report to RSPCA, then risk the owners working out who reported them. It's a balancing act between never seeing the client again or taking the softly softly approach and trying to educate.

I'm not sure about dogs that are a risk due to their behaviour.

I have known several people owning an excess amount of dogs, 3 or 4 under the same vet not all registered with council due to exceeding a 2 dog legislation, but they seemed to get away with it and not like the vet had dobbed them in. I guess the vet wouldn't know if they had permits for 3 or 4 dogs anyway???.

[furballs]

You can try the Animal Welfare Bureau.

Vets aren't under any obligation to report un-registered or un-microchipped pets AFAIK. Chipped dogs that are unregistered in Vic will get caught with the agreement the owner signs on the chip form, eventually, but it's up to local councils to ask CAR for instance, for full records of chipped animals in their municipality.

Most Vets with any morals would report a neglected or mistreated dog but we have to report to RSPCA, then risk the owners working out who reported them. It's a balancing act between never seeing the client again or taking the softly softly approach and trying to educate.

I'm not sure about dogs that are a risk due to their behaviour.

I have known several people owning an excess amount of dogs, 3 or 4 under the same vet not all registered with council due to exceeding a 2 dog legislation, but they seemed to get away with it and not like the vet had dobbed them in. I guess the vet wouldn't know if they had permits for 3 or 4 dogs anyway???.

Personnaly, I think my vet would turn a blind eye to the 3 dog rule if they know it's for a good cause They are really nice people and I know from previous experience that they haven't dobbed me in to the council

A good vet loves and cares about animals...........why would you go to one that doesn't

[Crisovar]

I have known several people owning an excess amount of dogs, 3 or 4 under the same vet not all registered with council due to exceeding a 2 dog legislation, but they seemed to get away with it and not like the vet had dobbed them in. I guess the vet wouldn't know if they had permits for 3 or 4 dogs anyway

It is none of the Vets business, they are NOT local Law Enforcement Officers.

[Wazzat Xolo]

I have known several people owning an excess amount of dogs, 3 or 4 under the same vet not all registered with council due to exceeding a 2 dog legislation, but they seemed to get away with it and not like the vet had dobbed them in. I guess the vet wouldn't know if they had permits for 3 or 4 dogs anyway

It is none of the Vets business, they are NOT local Law Enforcement Officers.

Thats right eithical, welfare and Legal are all different matters and rarely cross territories, however anyone can report someone for having over the prescribed number of dogs!

Someone reported me once as I had five and I had to rehome 1 and PTS the other!

I was an ACO and my boss knew of my animals ( was trying to rehome the excessnumbers) I live and never work in the same municipality!

[Black Bronson]

You can try the Animal Welfare Bureau.

Vets aren't under any obligation to report un-registered or un-microchipped pets AFAIK. Chipped dogs that are unregistered in Vic will get caught with the agreement the owner signs on the chip form, eventually, but it's up to local councils to ask CAR for instance, for full records of chipped animals in their municipality.

Most Vets with any morals would report a neglected or mistreated dog but we have to report to RSPCA, then risk the owners working out who reported them. It's a balancing act between never seeing the client again or taking the softly softly approach and trying to educate.

I'm not sure about dogs that are a risk due to their behaviour.

I have known several people owning an excess amount of dogs, 3 or 4 under the same vet not all registered with council due to exceeding a 2 dog legislation, but they seemed to get away with it and not like the vet had dobbed them in. I guess the vet wouldn't know if they had permits for 3 or 4 dogs anyway???.

Personally, I think my vet would turn a blind eye to the 3 dog rule if they know it's for a good cause They are really nice people and I know from previous experience that they haven't dobbed me in to the council

A good vet loves and cares about animals...........why would you go to one that doesn't

I don't think vets would be interested in council matters unless it concerned animals being kept in poor condition and not looked after properly.

[Black Bronson]

I have known several people owning an excess amount of dogs, 3 or 4 under the same vet not all registered with council due to exceeding a 2 dog legislation, but they seemed to get away with it and not like the vet had dobbed them in. I guess the vet wouldn't know if they had permits for 3 or 4 dogs anyway

It is none of the Vets business, they are NOT local Law Enforcement Officers.

Thats right eithical, welfare and Legal are all different matters and rarely cross territories, however anyone can report someone for having over the prescribed number of dogs!

Someone reported me once as I had five and I had to rehome 1 and PTS the other!

I was an ACO and my boss knew of my animals ( was trying to rehome the excessnumbers) I live and never work in the same municipality!

That's rough Wazzat, given the amount of people I have know over the years get away with over subscriptions and no registrations.

[Wazzat Xolo]

I have known several people owning an excess amount of dogs, 3 or 4 under the same vet not all registered with council due to exceeding a 2 dog legislation, but they seemed to get away with it and not like the vet had dobbed them in. I guess the vet wouldn't know if they had permits for 3 or 4 dogs anyway

It is none of the Vets business, they are NOT local Law Enforcement Officers.

Thats right eithical, welfare and Legal are all different matters and rarely cross territories, however anyone can report someone for having over the prescribed number of dogs!

Someone reported me once as I had five and I had to rehome 1 and PTS the other!

I was an ACO and my boss knew of my animals ( was trying to rehome the excessnumbers) I live and never work in the same municipality!

That's rough Wazzat, given the amount of people I have know over the years get away with over subscriptions and no registrations.

lol I know but its the law and the old girl was ten years old and lived her last few years with me and in total peace ( albeit no teeth!) I know she was in a good place when it wa s time to go!

I have a permit now for all my dogs but being an ACO people always want to fight you! lol

[becks]

I'm a little confused about the dog being neglected, surely if this was the case, the owner wouldn't have the dog at the vets?

[tdierikx]

Maybe ask your local vet what the obligations are for your queries... better still, ring a few vets and ask...

T.

[Scarlet]

Mandatory reporting of children is a controversial subject and I'm not sure if it is mandated in every state so I wouldn't think vets legally have to report cruelty cases.

Morally and ethically it is a different story but if they have the vet giving treatment and taking their advice then they wouldn't be a problem.

[mr.mister]

I'm a little confused about the dog being neglected, surely if this was the case, the owner wouldn't have the dog at the vets?

I found an old BC wandering the streets once and took him to my local vet. He was in shocking condition, with such a bad infestation of fleas (you could see them crawling all over him) that had been there for such a long time that he'd developed a bad skin infection and was pretty much bald from his shoulders back. He was constantly chewing himself in desperaton and was always making himself bleed.

I didn't want him left at the vets overnight so I offered to take him home. I fed him, gave him some affection and spent over an hour flea-bathing him and massaging his skin. I dropped him back to the vet the next day as I had to work, and believe it or not the owners went and claimed him!! All the vets did was give them a bit of a tongue lashing about his skin condition and sent him home. They said they couldn't do anything else (ie reporting) because it was their dog! wth! Those vets I have to say though were pretty shocking. Glad I don't live in the area anymore.

I went back up home for a visit just recently and saw the BC wandering around with his owners, in exactly the same condition I'd found him in before, and that had been over a year ago. So sad.