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Urban Animal Management - Council View
Dr R K Dickens, M.V.Sc.(Syd Univ.), M.A.C.V.Sc. - Veterinarian
Abstract
Animals and man have been associated for thousands of years.
A recent exhibition of Treasures of the British Museum at the
National Gallery in Canberra showed dogs, cats and animals associating
with man some 2,000years B.C.
Man has domesticated animals flor food, work, warmth and companionship.
They are an essential part of man's society and as Gillian Mansfield
said at the recent Urban Animal Conference 'pets, especially
dogs, are a normal part of family life in Urban Australia".
To those in convalescent homes, to the elderly, ti the lonely,
to the young, to the blind, to the mentally and physically handicapped
and to those with a variety of medical problems, the therapeutic
value of companion animals is undisputed.
Yet despite the accolades of the value and benefit to our
society there is a move against companion animals and to strengthen
animal control laws, to increase licence fees, to increase penalties,
to tighten existing regulations and to prohibit dogs running
free under control and the proposed curfew on cats.
One can speculate why this is happening. To my mind the debate
is, speaking from the Local Government perspective, in danger
of getting out of control. Veterinarians should get more involved,
offer informed and unbiased opinion and visibly support responsible
pet owners, otherwise the "do-gooders" of our society
will force legislators to enact laws that will act to the detriment
of those owners and restrict our animals to conditions not conducive
eir well being.
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