Record number of pet dogs being surrendered

[_PL_]

On 17/08/2022 at 7:38 AM, tdierikx said:

 

@sandgrubber, it's the backyarders breeding "designer" crossbreeds, "rare" colours of established breeds, or those breeding the latest "fashion trend" breeds to satisfy some insane demand for them, with no regard to the longterm health and stability of the animals they are supplying to the market, that are the crux of the problem. These breeders are often unregistered and not exactly easy to find and shut down by those tasked with policing animal welfare laws

 

Sadly true. How do you find them if your dog needs to bounce back? Or do you try to sell them yourself to make back some of the extortionate price.
 

No offence to anyone who has made the transition but I doubt a decent % become registered, there's no point with alternative registries that accept everybody regardless of breed and also bring perceived legitimacy with membership.
I do know (from answering questions for people looking for pups) that people can think a breeding/selling permit number means registered. And that microchip forms mean papered. And that a vet check means a health guarantee.  
  
During the unprecedented Covid rush to get pups, going by the booming market in BYB, people weren't waiting for a registered breeder with a planned litter. Took too long and not enough pups to keep up with demand. 

[tdierikx]

This is an interesting article...

 

https://www.9news.com.au/national/animals-surrendered-sydney-influx-post-covid-and-cost-of-living/ed10bcd5-5613-4ac3-a1e2-192910476371?fbclid=IwAR2VFT7jwulSzKRl_YRlj8meBAGtMzTNGfGEYDdufeFUBL9RVsPIFudMogU

 

I call suss that RSPCA NSW are reporting less surrenders than same time last year... yet AWL have an 8 month waiting list to surrender a pet, and virtually every other pound and shelter is overflowing.

 

T.

[Dozer76]

It is so incredibly sad to see how shallow and uncaring people actually are.

 

There should be a register for people who abandon companion  animals, and they should be prevented from owning them in the future and / or charged higher registration due to the higher risk that they will be irresponsible owners.

[~Anne~]

Ultimately, it still all comes down to human attitude and culture, not the number of dogs being bred.
 

We need to focus on fact finding and researching the real reasons for the number of dogs in shelters and rescues. The ‘desex and don’t breed’ mantras have given everyone the wrong impression and not solved any of the problems we’ve all been seeing for years. 

[tdierikx]

56 minutes ago, ~Anne~ said:

We need to focus on fact finding and researching the real reasons for the number of dogs in shelters and rescues. The ‘desex and don’t breed’ mantras have given everyone the wrong impression and not solved any of the problems we’ve all been seeing for years. 

 

I agree completely... unfortunately politicians seem to think that simply adding more unenforceable legislation is the answer, as it gives the impression that they are "doing something" about the problem... *sigh*

 

It also doesn't help that nowadays politics has been hijacked by the animal rights movement, and has managed to place politicians in roles that give them access to changing legislation to suit their twisted agenda.

 

Example: recent changes to legislation that forces pounds to farm out animals into the already stretched rescue industry - effectively removing the onus (and cost) of rehoming animals that find themselves homeless from any government body.

 

Unfortunately, at no point has anyone done any really in-depth studies as to why animals are finding their way into pounds, shelters, or rescue. Studies that have been done, certainly haven't gone into the detail of what breeds/types of animals are being abandoned/lost/surrendered, where they came from, why they were surrendered, etc. One thing to note is the rise in claims that the housing crisis has been a large factor in reasons given for recent surrenders - but this may not be 100% accurate given that the media attention on that particular issue might just be giving people a "valid" reason for getting rid of their pets right now.

 

This is the most recent review into the issue, and although quite comprehensive, it also outlines some glaring issues with what records are kept/available with regards to measurable demographics above and beyond basic numbers... https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/CIE-Draft-Report_NSW-OLG_Rehoming-of-Companion-Animals-in-NSW.pdf

 

T.

[asal]

I was visiting my brother yesterday, he is a Peter Brock Fan and has two vintage Holden's.  He saw a yellow Toyota Torana GTR identical to the first car he ever owned and decided he has to go back to his childhood and bought it.  Soo at least one of the Holden's has to go.

 

What on earth has that to do with dog's you ask?

 

Well nothing in one way.

 

BUT! Although the Brock Holden's always before, sold like hotcakes if one was for sale. 

 

Well that is  until this year. 

 

He has discovered no one is buying now.

 

I was told three years ago we are heading for a depression worse than the one my parents knew.

 

 

 

I know someone else with a rare as hen's teeth Bathurst King of the mountain model Nissan GTR factory perfect low, low mileage valued at over half a million and has turned down numerous offers from here and from overseas.  Decided to accept the last offer as needs to retire and needs the money.  So what's happened to the offer too good to refuse?  the potential buyer changed his mind the day the transfer was to go through and now advertised for sale, not one call?   Neither from here or overseas, not a peep.

 

Maybe, just maybe, people are beginning to realise and ceasing spending on all things?

 

Apparently house prices are doing a dive as well

 

If its true, we better buckle up for a rough ride.

 

Although employment wise there are thousands of jobs vacant, business's are closing because they cant find staff?

 

on Landline last night, they talked about what I have already seen, the hospital system is broken, so short staffed nurses and doctors are burning out trying to reduce the backlog waiting times. but when your missing 48 staff already and more resigning (the figures for Griffith hospital alone) but the city hospital's are in the same boat.  apparently almost 3,000 nurses and doctors are waiting for visas' to be able to come here.  The waiting time so far is 16 months?

 

millions of tons of fruit are falling to the ground because there is no one to pick them.

 

The next year's will see many changes that COVID was just the beginning I suspect

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 20, 2022 by asal

[~Anne~]

Thanks for the link, T! I've been out of the loop for a while so didn't realise the OLG had commissioned a report. Interesting read...

 

Its good in that it provides a snapshot of the situation for NSW, and what people think and or assume with some statistical data to back it up.

 

I've only read 1/4 through so far, but it appears to include reasoning based on assumptions as well. I say this as it doesn't appropriately cite evidence for some statements. That's not to say they don't have backup stats, but its not cited yet that I can see.  Again it calls for desexing too and does not provide a valid reason why. From my perspective, it seems to follow many of the same assumptions about companion animal welfare that have been made for decades.

 

Who are CIE, the drafters of the report? The Centre for International Economics is a research agency obviously. I'm curious to know if any of the analysts for this research have  expertise in Companion Animal policy, research or issues? Where do they stand personally on Companion animal issues? Family pets are in every corner of our society and we all hold pre-conceived views and ideas, with some more strongly held and voiced than others. 

 

This quote from the report stood out for me as a concern:

Behaviour assessment arrangements be revised so that: a) councils are able to undertake assessments of whether an animal is suitable for rehoming before advertising to rehoming organisations b) councils are able to euthanise animals where there are work health and safety concerns for keeping the animal c) training programs for behaviour assessment for council staff are supported by NSW OLG, which could include financial support and coordination.

 

Many placid, loving, affable dogs and cats will react negatively in the pound environment due to stress brought on by fear, noise and chaos. We have some wonderfully caring and knowledgeable pound staff across NSW, but we also have a lot who do not understand reactive behaviour frequently seen in animals in this situation. When you take into account that the role is not really remunerated well and is generally taken up by people without specialised learning or qualifications, its understandable I guess - maybe they need to be qualified and remunerated better? I understand that from a workplace safety standpoint this is an issue but I can't see money being poured into professional development of pound staff to get them to the level needed to reduce this risk adequately in order to prevent unnecessary euthanasia. 

 

Anyway, this is one where we need to sit over a cup of coffee and dissect it. There's too much to read, absorb and consider to chat about here! I could be typing for hours. 

 

Thank again for sharing the link, I really appreciate it. 

[~Anne~]

Interesting choice of sources to rely on in the draft report. For example, this national survey of 1,038 people. Who are Animal Medicines Australia? 

 

https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AMAU005-PATP-Report21_v1.4_WEB.pdf

 

[tdierikx]

@~Anne~- you have a background in government related stuff, yes?

 

From what I can gather CIE have been instrumental in reports commissioned into quite a few policy areas... they seem to have at least one Director with some Agriculture quals, but I can't find anything that indicates that any of their principals are specifically geared towards companion animal issues. On the upside, I can't see any that are in any way affiliated with, or have leanings towards, any animal rights group agendas either.

 

The stand out of that report for me was the categorisation of cats - they clearly distinguish the different levels of ownership status, and recognise "community cats" or "semi-owned" cats as an actual group that deserves to be looked at as other than "feral" when it comes to rehoming options afforded to them.

 

Animal Medicines Australia appears to be a group that represents the animal medicine manufacturing industry, and as such they tend to stick to participation/submissions on policy regarding same (biosecurity, etc). No idea who actually commissioned them to produce that particular study, or others of its kind... ??

 

If you want some truly frightening reading, have a looky at some of the NSW inquiries into various proposed changes to animal welfare policy - these inquiries have been pretty much hijacked (and in most cases actually instigated/run) by the Animal Justice Party (and/or Greens) - reading the minutes of the reports coming out of the recent ones clearly shows the influence exerted by AJP to include "evidence" tendered in those inquiries that support the AR agenda in the reports and recommendations... grrr!

 

Just as a side note, if people think that AJP are a bit extreme with their animal policies... check out the latest policies of the Greens with regards to animals... frightening!

 

T.