Owning pets implies responsibilities that people are increasingly being
called upon to meet, especially in urban areas. These responsibilities include:
Collectively, these responsibilities have come to be known as socially
responsible pet ownership which has two components:
Both components of responsible pet ownership are promoted through information, education, legislation and enforcement. Those involved include local councils, animal behaviourists, veterinarians, animal welfare organisations, the various interest groups and interested individuals.
Some of the education programs currently available include:
These are only some of the initiatives that have been introduced in recent years in Australia. Overseas, an extensive number of programs are being trialed and implemented constantly and the results of these studies will eventually make their way to this country. It all reflects increased community, professional and academic interest in urban animal management. We now have a broader and more soundly based body of knowledge on which to make judgements about managing domestic pets as well as more effective ways of disseminating new ideas and knowledge both to pet owners and those working in the field, e.g. through the work of the Urban Animal Management Group of the Australian Veterinary Association and through various professional and academic journals. A multi-faceted approach such as this has the most promise for achieving worthwhile results.