Animal Groups Want All Pet Dogs Desexed

[liverchips]

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/animal-group-wants-all-pet-dogs-desexed/2568442.aspx?page=4

Animal group wants all pet dogs desexed

DAMON CRONSHAW

25 May, 2012 06:10 AM

The state government should introduce mandatory desexing for dogs, a Hunter-based animal welfare group says.

The call follows a state report released this month that said 21,670 dogs were euthanised in NSW in 2010-11, which represented 33per cent of all dogs impounded.

To read the Herald's opinion, click here.

The Newcastle Herald recently reported a savage dog attack on Mirrabooka’s Natalie Southam, aged 19.

Two American Staffordshire terriers jumped two-metre fences and attacked Ms Southam on Friday, May 11, leaving her with wounds to her ear, back of the neck and arms that required 19 stitches.

The Society of Companion Animal Rescuers spokeswoman Callie Redman said such incidents should prompt the government to introduce mandatory dog desexing and a licensing system for breeders.

‘‘I don’t like breeding full stop. I despise it,’’ Ms Redman said.

‘‘There’s too many animals living in horrendous conditions and dying every day.’’

Lake Macquarie mayor and MP Greg Piper said he backed licences for breeders and mandatory desexing for dogs of non-registered breeders.

The state government has established the Companion Animals Taskforce, which Charlestown MP Andrew Cornwell, a veterinarian, chairs.

Mr Cornwell said the taskforce had released a discussion paper, which recommended the introduction of a breeder licensing system.

But he said an incentive-based desexing system was recommended, rather than a mandate.

The taskforce’s recommendation involves a rebate for owners who desex their animals within three months of registration.

He believed the move would be ‘‘far more effective’’ than a mandate.

Cr Piper said he would examine why the taskforce was ‘‘shying away’’ from mandatory desexing.

‘‘I imagine it might be a regulatory problem, but the state government is willing to regulate in other areas for community risk,’’ he said.

Cr Piper said the taskforce seemed to be using the ‘‘carrot as opposed to the stick’’ in the case of owners desexing dogs.

But he said the carrot approach may not work.

‘‘Many of the people who are irresponsible in the way they breed dogs are probably not going to be attracted by an incentive,’’ he said.

‘‘There seems to be some machismo associated with having fertile dogs.’’

Ms Redman said the government should put a stop to puppy farms.

‘‘Animals are suffering at the hands of people using them like factory machines and pumping out puppies for profit,’’ she said.

[Salukifan]

How to make dogs extinct within one generation. See above.

[Jumabaar]

I do like the idea of incentives- cheap desexing will get rid of puppies produced because people can't be bothered, or believe desexing is expensive. And this will eliminate part of a cycle of them also selling to people that can't afford desexing.

Mandatory desexing is a waste of time and money. The people that break the rules now will continue to break the rules.

[Dame Aussie]

How is the dog attack mentioned in the story at all related to desexing?! That's laughable.

Edited May 25, 2012 by Aussie3

[mita]

That dreadful incident where the young woman was injured by the 2 dogs hasn't got anything to do with mandatory desexing.

It's about the dogs' behaviour and how they've been raised and managed by an owner. Why is the focus going on to mandatory desexing as a remedy....?

The remedies for dog aggression against humans lie with how puppies are bred and socialised, and training and management by owners.

When all this is covered well, entire dogs are no more human-aggressive than desexed ones. The pet therapy team from Dogs Victoria has 'show' Rottweilers who moon-light working with the elderly in nursing homes as much loved 'visitors'. And they're entire....the rotties, that is.

Best summary I've ever heard on how to breed and raise a well-socialised, human-friendly dog, came from the registered breeder who owned the Pet Therapy Rottie....speaking on Radio National.

It's people like this who already 'live' the remedies against dog-on-human aggression. And have the evidence.

Edited May 25, 2012 by mita

[Salukifan]

That dreadful incident where the young woman was injured by the 2 dogs hasn't got anything to do with mandatory desexing.

It's about the dogs' behaviour and how they've been raised and managed by an owner. Why is the focus going on to mandatory desexing as a remedy....?

Because that is the agenda that some people want to push. And they'll take any opportunity (relevant or not) to push it.

If you want reasoned, factually based responses to any issue, don't ask a zealot.

‘‘I don’t like breeding full stop. I despise it,’’ Ms Redman said.

There's the agenda and there's the zealot. I rest my case.

[klink]

I think that all animals would be better off if we starting desexing some of the so-called animal lovers who are responsible for many horrific outcomes to stop their genes being passed on.

Unfortunatley all the licencing and all the regulations will only hurt all those that strive to do the right thing, you can't legislate for stupidity.

Just take a drive down many near city/regional roads and see the never ending signs on gates and fences with dogs/cats for sale,not to mention shopping centre notice boards and the internet.

The ban on guns' have certainly stopped gun crimes...I dont' think.

[tdierikx]

Removal of breeding ability (in dogs) isn't going to stop people allowing their dogs to run loose and create carnage...

What may work better is harsher penalties for the owners of animals that do what happened to Ms Southam - stiff fines and/or jail time for the owners of the dog in question might be a better method of deterrent IMHO.

T.

[Steve]

Nothing - nothing done to stop dogs being bred by people who only have a litter on rare occasions is going to prevent large scale commercial breeders picking up the slack left if you remove that part of the supply chain - because the demand is still the same.

The only thing that will stop dogs being dumped is to do something about the people who dump them.

Again more over regulation which disadvantages small breeders and advantages large scale commercial breeders.

While everyone is beating their chest about we don't mind licensing if registered breeders can be exempt just remember that there are 3 orgs in NSW which have registered breeders status and one of them represents commercial breeders.

Make them take a harder look at pounds and shelters and how they should be working more with private rescue and let them spend some of their resources on pretending they are educating the public rather than pretending they will ever lift a finger to police any new laws or old ones for that matter.

Say no to any new laws which will policed by a quasi police force with no outside accountability which have already made it abundantly clear they are against the very group they want to police .

[mantis]

I don't understand why the dog attack was brought into the article, totally irrelevant. But I do agree that unless you are registered breeder, or showing your dogs, then I think pet dogs should be desexed. It would stop a lot of BYB & Puppy Farmers, plus the people who want to let their little girl have one litter. There would be a lot less dogs in pet shops, pounds & being PTS.

[Jumabaar]

I don't understand why the dog attack was brought into the article, totally irrelevant. But I do agree that unless you are registered breeder, or showing your dogs, then I think pet dogs should be desexed. It would stop a lot of BYB & Puppy Farmers, plus the people who want to let their little girl have one litter. There would be a lot less dogs in pet shops, pounds & being PTS.

My only question is why showing dogs gives people the right to keep entire dogs?? People that do protection work should have the same rights, as should people that do herding. Not all these people are registered with an organisation recognised by the Govt but they should be allowed to breed.

[Jed]

Of course they want mandatory desexing. No dogs in 10 years then. And Mrs. Redman sounds like your usual card-carrying PETA member. Of course she doesn't like breeding, she doesn't want people to have pets.

The 33% of dogs euthed in pounds would be old, sick and unsuitable dogs -- as per the RSPCA and other stats.

*sigh*

It is a harmless little hobby, keeping dogs. Dogs were made to be pets. Yet the loonies can't just leave them alone, they have to be trying to stop something harmless.

I don't like the notion of calling "pets" "companion animals" as Ingrid wanted. It is much easier to ban "companion animals" than "pets". The word "pet" has entirely different connotations than "companion animal".

A pet is a comfortable, friendly, family sort of a thing, a friend, a face licker for little kids, someone to talk to for the elderly and alone .... whole lots of things.

Companion Animals are nothing much, and yes, easily dumped, and easily disposed of forever by wanting to neuter everything and anything.

[SkySoaringMagpie]

We should all be responding to the official survey if we live in NSW. I did mine this afternoon.

There is some clear empire building going on by some of the members of the taskforce. I find this rather sobering given that there is no power of review over their actions.

Link to survey off this site, think carefully about whether extra regulation will fix people who will never comply anyway, who sell BYB unregistered dogs off the local shopping mall noticeboard to uninformed ill-prepared people whose only qualification is that they have the cash or just the willingness to take the pup away.

http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_generalindex.asp?sectionid=1&areaindex=CATASK&docu

[mantis]

I don't understand why the dog attack was brought into the article, totally irrelevant. But I do agree that unless you are registered breeder, or showing your dogs, then I think pet dogs should be desexed. It would stop a lot of BYB & Puppy Farmers, plus the people who want to let their little girl have one litter. There would be a lot less dogs in pet shops, pounds & being PTS.

My only question is why showing dogs gives people the right to keep entire dogs?? People that do protection work should have the same rights, as should people that do herding. Not all these people are registered with an organisation recognised by the Govt but they should be allowed to breed.

You can't show a dog if it's been desexed, I agree that registered protection dog agencies should also be exempt, because they are in a controlled situation with responsible owners.

Please don't think I am a PETA lover, I can't stand them.

I just get upset when I see a big sign advertising dogs from pet shops. Only today, I went past Feathers & Fish in Bayswater, with a billboard outside advertising they have Kelpie X Gundogs for sale, this really makes me angry, because someone from the suburbs, possibly with no experience is going to buy a working dog & keep it locked up in a small backyard. I worry where those dogs will end up.

I love dogs as most people who have been around here for a long time know, but I am sick of Pet Shops & BYB selling to anyone, whether they are experienced dog owners or not.

[Guest Arcane]

You can't show a dog if it's been desexed,

umm, yes you can!

[mantis]

When did it change? When I was showing they had to be entire. Gawd I'm old.

[Maxiewolf]

Dog attack reference to desexing = stupid, unessential and pointless.

And how will they regulate this? It already costs so much more to register an entire dog unless your a member of a Canine Association anyway, so again you will just have a bunch of people choosing not to register their dogs and dodge the fees... so until the council spend the money on someone going door to door and checking every dog.. what's the point exactly?

My Dogs entire, he doesn't roam, he isn't aggressive, and I'm not a backyard breeder. I don't see why I should have to alter my dog because of the irresponsible people. Its right up there with people who are loosing their bully breeds because of BSL. We already know it doesn't work.

There should be more incentive for people to register their dogs for starters.... give more rewards for being responsible, not more punishments and rules because you get caught up in the net that's trying to scoop up the rotten apples.

[Guest Arcane]

When did it change? When I was showing they had to be entire. Gawd I'm old.

a little while back (maybe 1-2 yrs??) the neuter classes were introduced.

[Jumabaar]

When did it change? When I was showing they had to be entire. Gawd I'm old.

a little while back (maybe 1-2 yrs??) the neuter classes were introduced.

They don't show against entire dogs. My point wasn't about show dogs being entire- it was why they were the only competitive dog that you singled out as being able to stay entire. Plenty of other disciplines are built from dogs that never see the show ring they don't have the stipulation that they have to be entire to compete but it would be a waste not to breed some of those dogs.

I guess I am just saying I am for personal informed choices rather than trying to say 'this group of people can have entire animals' and no one else can.....

[GRD]

When did it change? When I was showing they had to be entire. Gawd I'm old.

a little while back (maybe 1-2 yrs??) the neuter classes were introduced.

The Neuter classes were added on 1 January 2001, The Neuter Championship title was added on 1 July 2010.