Ethics Groups Call for Breeding Ban on Some English Bulldogs & Pugs in NSW

[Deeds]

https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/animal-ethics-groups-calls-for-breeding-ban-on-some-english-bulldogs-pugs-in-nsw/news-story/7437abf0de591b02a0120c02580e7182

[tdierikx]

So much discussed at yesterday's hearings, and this waffle is the only take-away the media gets? Sentient are an Animal Rights organisation set on restricting animal ownership, and certainly don't speak for the vet industry in any way, shape, or form.

 

"Key concerns included a lack of work life balance, pay concerns and the increased pressure from 3 million ‘pandemic pets’ due to Covid."

 

And they also missed the overriding largest issue faced by vets (and all vet clinic staff actually) - which is unrealistic expectations from clients, and the high incidence of abuse (both verbal AND physical) when clients are faced with the actual costs of those expectations. This was closely followed by the fact that graduating vets have not been taught the realities of working in the industry, such as the long hours, low pay, and the human to human communication skills required - after all, you are primarily dealing with humans who own the animals you see/treat. Graduating vets are also not inclined to work in mixed practice (small AND large animals), preferring to stay in urban areas and where the client base is more predictable and the pay a bit better than rural/regional practice.

 

Another issue that was raised is that vet nurses are facing very similar issues as vets, and are leaving the profession in large numbers too. If they think vets get paid crap, vet nurses are paid even less - effectively not receiving a living wage even if they secure permanent full-time work. Hospitality staff waiting tables or making coffees get paid a better hourly rate than vet nurses (and in some cases even more than vets)... just let that sink in for a while... the person making the pretty pattern in the crema of your coffee gets paid better than the vet nurse who is in charge of monitoring your pet's anaesthesia and vital signs during surgery...

 

With regard to the abuse issue, that has been a growing problem in society overall. People in customer facing jobs have been subject to increasing levels of abuse over the past few years, often bearing the brunt of people's ire for any number of things beyond their control. This attitude needs to stop, and we all need to treat each other with the  level of respect we expect for ourselves... it's not really all that hard, honest!

 

The vet shortage inquiry hearings continue today from 9:30am for anyone interested - today's witnesses are from organisations representing vet nurses and vet education facilities (universities) - might be interesting to get their take on why the graduates they train aren't the least bit prepared for the realities of life as a vet.

 

T.

[Mairead]

I heard on ABC radio that many vet students from overseas are going home to work once qualified.

I wonder if there is a place for nurse practitioners in the industry? For decent wages obviously.

I often try to remember a funny story to tell the vets and nurses, kind of 'can you believe that people don't know this?'. The neighbourhood children who put out a plate of fruit for the stray cats comes to mind.

 

Edited August 30, 2023 by Mairead
spelling

[tdierikx]

Yep... a very high proportion of those overseas students are leaving Australia shortly after gaining their degree... they are under no obligation to stay here and practice at all. Then add that to the fact that overseas student places in the vet courses outnumbers places for Australian (read subsidised) students, AND the fact that overseas students paying full fees are not subject to the rigorous entry level requirements that Australian students have to go through... well, can you see a problem here?

 

Here's an interesting aside... speaking to a 2nd year vet science student (Syd Uni) recently who wasn't even aware that there was an inquiry into the vet shortage issues - even though their University sent their own delegation to appear at said inquiry. The universities appearing at the hearings were pretty much avoiding the issues of post graduated vets, essentially saying that they needed more funding from government, but also being a little vague as to what that extra funding would be spent on...

 

For anyone interested, the transcripts from the hearings are now available for viewing... https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=2964#tab-hearingsandtranscripts

 

Note Emma and Abigail kept asking about "Veticare", and there was quite a bit of discussion about how a system similar to Medicare won't work, but some good suggestions about a telehealth model that may go some way to resolving some of the burdens faced by vets and pet owners. AWL's mobile clinic was also a great incentive, but the problems they have been facing need to be addressed to make the model a viable prospect long term.

 

It was disappointing  that the government had withdrawn the promised funding for the Byron Bay Wildlife clinic/hospital, which is a wonderful asset for sick and injured wildlife, and quite frankly we need more of those types of facilities, not less...

 

One submission really stood out for me - that of Dr Jocelyn Birch Baker - she was also a witness at the hearings on day 1 - some really awesome solutions to some of the issues vets are facing on a daily basis that she has put into action at her own clinic(s) and are working very well... https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lcdocs/submissions/79975/0061 Dr Jocelyn Birch Baker.pdf

 

It will be interesting to see the final report from the inquiry... hopefully the Chair will have some level of control about keeping to the facts and not let Emma run roughshod over what information is included or discarded like she did in the puppy farming inquiry last term of office... grrr!

 

The next big inquiry to watch out for is the one into NSW pounds... that committee is chaired by Emma and deputy chair is Abigail Boyd, both whom have some fairly strong AR agendas, so I'm not holding much hope for any real common sense results to come from that... but miracles can happen... fingers crossed. Les see what the composition of the witness list is for those hearings... I'm tipping it's going to be overloaded with AR leaning groups screaming doom and gloom and calling for all breeders to be banned, etc...

 

An interesting note re the pounds inquiry... submission entry closed on 18 August, yet none have been published on the inquiry webpages to date. Normally submissions are published either as they come in and are vetted, or within a couple of days of the closing date... we are now 2 weeks post that date, and nothing published yet... which is highly anomalous.

 

T.

[tdierikx]

Here's a quote from one of the submissions to the vet shortage inquiry...

 

"Vets are experts at euthanasia. And suicide."

 

I'll just let that sink in...

 

T.