In a decisive move, the Government has announced sweeping new reforms designed to improve animal welfare and place responsiblity soley on the traders of animals.
Many animals are sold with no prior knowledge, or apparant care, of the conditions they will face once under the charge of their new owners. Under the new guidelines the purchasers will be required to undergo audits to ensure their facilities are up to standard, before the sellers are granted permission to trade their animals. It is a move expected to be greeted with rounds of applause from the animal welfare movement, who's exposure and documentation into breaches of basic welfare by owners raised alarm nationwide.
But those within the industry claim the activists views are one sided and only represent a small proportion of animal owners.
"These people care and respect for the animals we provide them. It's a small number giving the rest of us a bad name," commented one spokesperson. "We already take steps to provide our customers with the skills and resources they require to properly look after the animals we provide. There is a real risk if we impose too many restrictions on them the trade will go underground, or cease all together. Which at the end of the day, that is the activists real intentions."
But a spokesperson for the movement behind the documented welfare breaches denies this is their goal.
"Our evidence speaks for itself. Time after time we have raised the alarm over this issue, and finally the Government has taken action."
The documented cases of abuse can be found here. Not what you may be expecting....
It was this evidence that has led to the new requirements for pet stores and breeders. Prior to any sale going ahead, the purchaser must be audited, their house inspected and receive training to ensure they are capable of adequately caring for a cat, dog, rabbit, goldfish or any other pet they may wish to own. The animal must be tracked from the point of sale to it's ultimate passing, to ensure the best welfare outcomes for the animal. Any breaches of these requirements by the new owners will see the person or store who sold them the animal held accountable and face closure.
However, Fellows Uniting to Raise Rights Involving Every Species (FURRIES) is pushing for stronger changes.
"We at FURRIES believe the government has missed a real opportunity to push for an end to the live pet trade. This country has an extensive manufacturing industry, there is no reason why we cannot increase our stuffed toy production. And given advances in the digital realm, virtual pets can provide children with the joys of raising an animal without any animals being involved."
It's a this point I think you've all realised I'm taking the proverbial. While I'd like to point out the new reforms for live export are fine by me, and seem to be accepted by industry, I wonder if the same standards were applied more broadly whether they would be as welcomed.
5 comments:
Hi,
Why is it that I get the feeling that OZ is starting to be run by activists? With each new law that comes in their seems to be an activist group behind it. It really is getting ridiculous.
Vet students are already being subjected to the 'virtual animal' world with 'animal welfare' rules restricting their ability to train using actual animals. How they're supposed to care for actual animals if they're taught using only a 'simulation' or demonstration is beyond me.
It would prove interesting if this legislature was rolled out to cover all industries including the pet trade industry to see what the reaction would be because unfortunately people do not understand the overarching ramifications of the legislature.
I like your predictions, If I had the imagination, I'd write an Orwellian style book about this. I think Nineteen Eighty Four is here. Orwell was right. Just thirty years too soon.
These rules/inspections should apply to people having children well before it applies to animals. Some of our children are living in horrible conditions.
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