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The provision of animal services to councils by veterinarians
in practice
Ross A. Perry
Animal Services Provided to Councils by Veterinarians
The services provided depend largely upon the requirements
of the 'council'. The term 'council' is placed in inverted
commas, because so often it is not what council wants but
what certain individuals - employees of council or
occasionally councillors who sees political mileage in an
issue - want. The influence of personalities and power
politics, at whatever level the people are involved, is very
strong. Power politics is not confined to council
employees but also involve members ('activists') of some of
our 'most reputable' animal welfare organisations and
over the years I have become convinced of the wisdom of the
statement 'All is not what it seems'!
Services include but are not restricted to:
1.Killing of unclaimed dogs, vicious dogs and dogs in gross
pain. This appears to be the major animal service
councils currently seek from veterinarians. Unfortunately
councils are like so many farmers of old who only
called in the vet for 'firefighting' - usually after they
have consulted every unqualified person they knew.
Prevention is more cost effective than 'firefighting' and,
thankfully, some councils are changing.
2.Killing of other animals that sometimes come under council
jurisdiction. This includes such situations as
horses hit by cars after midnight, abandoned sheep and goats
and mauled waterfowl from council parks and
ponds.
3.Provision of emergency treatment to injured and sick 'stray'
dogs. These are usually animals to which
council's rangers or dog catchers had been called by some
member of the public. This often includes:
4.Provision of temporary holding facilities for such animals
(ie. 'hospitalisation')
5.Provision of boarding facilities for healthy impounded,
surrendered or dumped animals, This involves
providing the 'pound' for these animals until they are claimed
or their 'time' has run out.
6.Contacting owners. In the case of dogs with some form of
identification veterinarians may be required to
contact their owners, or attempt to do so, on behalf of council.
7.Performance of visual and sometimes physical health checks
of impounded animals. This is commonly
required where councils operate, or contract out, 'their own'
pounds, the purpose being selection for
euthanasia or sale.
8.Performance of vaccinations. This is required where councils
operate or contract 'their own' pounds and is
performed on those unclaimed animals not destined to be euthanased,
prior to their sale and transfer to new
owners. Some pounds now, and perhaps most in the future, also
require heartworm tests, microchip
implantation and desexing.
Veterinary services not utilised by most Councils
1.Vaccination of all overdue and previously unvaccinated animals;
2.Microchipping of all impounded animals prior to their release
to present or new owners;
3.Desexing of dogs prior to being offered for sale;
4.Desexing of already owned dogs/cats. This would be applicable
if they are subject to repeat impoundings or
produce litters which need to be surrendered;
5.Educational talks on behalf of Council. These would be suitable
for various community groups, notably
school children and ethnic groups, the latter of which often
have a fear of most pets due to the horror of
rabies in their countries of origin;
6.Participation in consultative committees. This would be
appropriate on matters pertaining to animals,
including birds, and the natural environment, including planting
of trees and shrubs;
7.Aquaculture in public lakes and ponds;
8.Advice on feral animal control including foxes, stray dogs
and cats, introduced birds;
9.Training of dog catchers in animal behaviour. Emphasis would
be on minimising fear in dogs and hence
minimising the risk of being attacked or bitten while catching
dogs;
10.Training of personnel in restraint of animals for euthanasia;
11.Advice in dog pound management to minimise the risks of
infectious disease outbreaks. This could also be
extended to advice in policy development for management of
pounds when outbreaks of infectious disease
do occur;
12.Advice to Council on animal or fauna parks operated by
Council. This could be extended to advice on
proposed fauna parks and other enterprises involving animals
and birds under Council jurisdiction.
About the author
Ross Perry
Homebush Animal Hospital
195 Parramatta Road
HOMEBUSH NSW 2140
Ph: (02) 746 7615
Fax: (02) 746 8375
Principal of Homebush Animal Hospital with cages and boarding
facilities for approximately 120 animals including
impounded dogs 1992 to present.
Principal veterinarian servicing privately owned dog pound
contracted by Warringah Shire Council approximately
1972-1987
Intermittent attendance at Hornsby Council Dog Pound 1991
Provider of Dog Pound services to Strathfield Municipal Council
1992 to present
Provider of Dog Pound services to Burwood Municipal Council
1992-1994
Provider of Dog Pound services to Auburn Municipal Council
1993-present
Provider of Dog Pound services to Concord Municipal Council
1992-1994
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