PORTER TO DEVELOP PAPER ON COMPANION ANIMALS

Today, Ms Mary Porter AM MLA, Member for Ginninderra, announced that she will work with the Department of Territory and Municipal Services and Industry stakeholders to develop a government discussion paper on the breeding and selling of companion animals in the ACT, to be tabled later this year.

“The discussion paper will document a range of suggestions I have made to address this issue, and will invite comment from the public as well as the diverse stakeholders,” Ms Porter said.

Barring any unforeseen developments, this code will be the ACT’s first ever mandatory code and a watershed moment for the welfare of companion animals in this jurisdiction, and quite possibly in Australia.
“I would like to acknowledge the excellent work of AWAC in producing a draft voluntary Code of Practice for the Sale of Animals in the ACT.
“When considering evidence of a continued rise in the numbers of animals surrendered to in the ACT, and in the context of increasing sales have on the market place, there is a need for government to take a fresh look at the breeding and supply of animals in our jurisdiction,” Ms Porter said.
“It was recently reported that approximately 250,000 unwanted companion animals are euthanized every year Australia –wide and I believe this is an unacceptably high number,” Ms Porter asserted.

“Here in the ACT, we are faced with a unique set of circumstances that contribute to the complexity of this issue. The vast majority of companion animals that are purchased by ACT residents are likely to be bred outside the ACT.

“This impacts on our capacity to regulate the breeding of companion animals purchased in the ACT, and the supply of animals available to ACT consumers,” Ms Porter conceded.

“The discussion paper will consider whether more stringent requirements should be place don the breeders and sellers of companion animals.

It will also consider systems of information sharing to support responsible pet ownership, in respect to desexing and the health and well-being of companion animals,” Ms Porter said.
Statement Ends
Media Contact: Andrew Hunter 02 6205 0428 bh 0431 739 775
Andrew.hunter@parliament.act.gov.au