AMREX

For community education on a grander scale, letís look at AMREX.

In the past councils tackling MPM issues often worked in isolation. Sometimes their activities were supported by other groups in the community such as other councils, vets, breed associations, obedience clubs and animal welfare agencies. But often these groups followed agendas that were different, and even contrary, to the aims of individual councils.

In Chapter 1 we saw that when the horizontal elements of the MPM top are not aligned, the energy is dissipated and the top canít spin. This problem can be overcome in a number of ways.

In South Australia, the Dog and Cat Management Board was established as an umbrella body to support individual councils and to act as a focus for the activities of the many government and non-government agencies with an interest in MPM in South Australia.

In Western Australia, a different model has evolved under the direction of animal behaviourist, Garth Jennens. Unlike the SA Dog and Cat Management Board, WAís AMREX is not funded from compulsory levies on pet owners. Instead it is a self-funded organisation which supports itself by selling MPM education and consultancy services to members of the public. While the central thrust of AMREX is community education, the organisation sees its role as being far broader than simply delivering education services on demand. It operates as an umbrella MPM organisation throughout metropolitan Perth. AMREX is endorsed by about 20 Perth councils and over 60 veterinary clinics.

Some of the features of AMREX

• AMREX plays a coordinating role bringing different MPM players together in WA.

For example, as a result of AMREX, some Perth local authorities have appointed staff in local veterinary clinics as dog registration officers.

• AMREX recognises that pet owners should be given accurate and relevant advice.

For example, all information provided to pet owners through AMREX courses has been vetted by the Municipal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the RSPCA, the Australian Veterinary Association (WA) and the WA Department of Local Government. This ensures that the information is consistent, accurate and compatible with the objectives of these bodies.

• AMREX takes a multi-disciplinary approach to MPM. It does this by seeking the support of various interest groups. It then endeavours to find common objectives between these groups to enable them to contribute jointly to Perthís MPM efforts.

For example, the AMREX approach to biting includes far more than advocating better restraint compliance. Different facets of the AMREX approach to biting include:

Þ a bite avoidance module for children

Þ a module for service employees entering private property

Þ a module for enforcement personnel, veterinary nurses, and trainers on recognising and handling potential biters

Þ a module for parents to prevent bites at home

Þ a re-education/training program for the owners of aggressive dogs

Þ information for breeders, animal shelters and pet shops on preventing problems from occurring

Þ a module on assessment of dogs for recycling

Þ treatment strategies for dogs that bite

Þ legislation for dogs that bite

• AMREX offers comprehensive, user-pays education for pet owners. There is a secondary emphasis on passive education, such as the distribution of leaflets and using the mass media.

For example, pet owners have access to training in all aspects of ownership: health, welfare, behaviour, training and legal responsibilities. In addition, AMREX contributes to formal programs to train people to become MPM educators. A Certificate of Urban Animal Management has been set up at Bentley TAFE (Perth).

• AMREX targets all stakeholders in its pursuit of responsible pet ownership.

For example, AMREX education efforts are directed at:

Þ owners

Þ breeders

Þ animal shelter and pound operators

Þ pet shops

Þ dog obedience clubs

• AMREX is involved in a wide range of MPM activities.

For example, just some AMREX activities and services are:

Þ establishment of satellite MPM

Þ education/training centres

Þ cat and dog owner programs

Þ offender programs

Þ dog obedience programs

Þ cat management programs to support legislative proposals

Þ programs for treatment of behavioural problems such as the AMREX Barkline Telephone Service

Þ school programs

Þ programs to support better MPM practice:

getting the community involved

gaining media support

setting up and financing dog exercise parks

registration and identification

improved animal health and welfare

Þ resources kits for local authorities, vets and AMREX advisers

Þ shelter and pound management programs

Þ lobbying to improve MPM legislation

AMREX has been developed privately. It demonstrates that a workable urban animal management program for a large metropolitan area does not require unlimited local and state government funding.

For more information on AMREX, see Jennensí description in the Proceedings of the 1994 Urban Animal Management Conference in Canberra.¹

1. Jennens GW. 1994. AMREX: an integrated system for companion animal management. In: Paxton DW, editor. Urban Animal Management: proceedings of the Third National Conference on Urban Animal Management in Australia (Canberra, 1994). Sydney: AVA: 79-91.