It’s taken 20 years but finally the Queensland Government is reviewing the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (ACPA) after a torrent of community voices begging for a review. While the review itself is a step in the right direction, Queenslanders still need to take a moment to sign and share the petition to the Government to ensure it is taken seriously and animals are finally given the appropriate level of care and protection…’
AUSTRALIA GETS A D IN ANIMAL WELFARE: According to the ‘Animal Protection Index’, internationally, Australia gets a D for animal welfare. Our laws are ‘speciesist, which means we humans put the interests of all other animal species far beneath our own.’
WHAT: This Government review has come in to effect because of the appalling animal cruelty that still takes place all over Queensland; from Dog tethering (a cruel form of neglect – the RSPCA regularly receives cases of dogs found dead at the end of a chain) to not providing shade/shelter for farm and domestic animals in extreme heat and other weather events ( the provision of shelter is one of the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare ).
“It is outrageous that a first world country like Australia gets such a low score,” say animal advocates from Animals Need Shade. “In Queensland there are appalling cases of animal cruelty that can be prevented by just providing animals with common decency. Queensland law states that it is possible for a dog to be left tied to the end of a rope or on a chain continuously for up to 23 hours and that is just inexcusable. It is impossible to monitor. The practice of tethering a dog outside unattended is now prohibited in some countries with effective results for a safer community and a life worth living for dogs. Positive testimonials exist where changes in law have been made to ensure that – no person shall tether a dog to a stationary or inanimate object as a means of confinement or restraint unless such person is outside with the dog, and the dog is always visible to the said person.”
LEGISLATION IN OTHER STATES: The ACT, Victoria and New South Wales governments have or are in the process of reviewing their primary animal welfare legislation in line with community expectations. ‘Animal sentience’ has already been adopted in ACT legislation and is being considered in Victoria.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY:
- Debra McCoy from Animals Need Shade email: debrasmccoy@
gmail.com - You could also talk to Mark Furner, MP, the Queensland Minister for Agriculture, Industry, Development and Fisheries about his thoughts on the review and whether he will support
- Morika Elek from Animals Need Shade regarding Dog tethering info@
animalsneedshade.org
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