HIGHLIGHTS OF CHAPTER 16: New ideas

• Many people working in MPM have embraced the ideals of creativity and continuous improvement to come up with new ways to deal with old problems. a

• Many of the problems associated with pets are the result of peopleís ignorance. In recent years, progams such as Pet Pep, Cats in Schools, Selectapet, Puppy Preschool, Australian Good Citizen and Pets in the Park have been developed to help people become better owners. a

• In Western Australia, AMREX provides an umbrella organisation for MPM activities in metropolitan Perth. It is a self-funded organisation, supporting itself by selling MPM education and consultancy services to the public. a

• Another way to help people behave more responsibly is by changing the physical and social environment in which they operate. Pet-friendly urban design and a free euthanasia schemes are two ways that community initiatives can encourage responsible owner behaviour. a

• Five years ago, some states had informal groups for PMOs and other MPM practitioners. These were the forerunners of many of the formal communication and support structures in evidence today. a 

• Many new ideas in MPM involve using technology but not all these ideas offer long term cost effective benefit. To identify useful technological advances, MPM practitioners will need to be able to evaluate new technology effectively. a

• The shift from seeing pets as problems to be managed to seeing pets as benefits that can be optimised is surely one of the most significant MPM changes of the past decade. a