A review of current Australian companion animal legislation

Robert Stabler and Michael Banyard

Background

Legislation has been a key plank in the control of companion animals, primarily dogs, for decades. Changing community attitudes and the continual pressure for urbanisation has maintained the pressure to amend and review legislation to keep pace with these changing attitudes and the community's needs. More recently cats have been included in such legislation.

Underlying the introduction, or amendment, of legislation is the perception that it will effect the desired community outcome. In addition, because of the federated nature of Australian Government, different states and local governments take alternative approaches to solving the same or similar problems. This diversity of approach provides an opportunity to compare, against appropriate key performance indicators, which legislative approach is working best. The success of respective legislation is seldom quantified and there has been no attempt at a national comparison.

This review seeks to address the first part of this issue - how does each state's respective legislation compare in their method of addressing the problems?

About the authors

Dr Robert Stabler

Stabler Animal Management

PO Box 518

Cardiff

NSW 2285

Australia

Ph/Fax 02 4954 3415

Robert Stabler graduated as a veterinarian from Queensland in 1981. He has worked in small animal veterinary practice in Newcastle since 1983. He is currently studying for his Membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Animal Behaviour. He is working part-time at the Newcastle RSPCA in an educational-type role. He is the Newcastle PetPep Co-Ordinator. He is also a member of the Port Stephens Feral Animal Management Committee and the Newcastle Companion Animal Advisory Panel. He appears on NBN TV's 'Today Extra' each month for the RSPCA and speaks at a local Canine Good Citizen Course.

Dr Michael Banyard

The Animal Medical Centre

56 Colbee Crt

Phillip ACT

PH: 02 6285 2637

Fax: 02 6285 4015

Michael has been involved in UAM closely since 1992. He has been National Convenor of the UAM-Advisory Group since that date and has been convenor or co-convenor of two National Conferences, the Canberra UAM Conference (1994) and the Perth Conference (1998). Michael is a practicising veterinarian with a strong interest in 'responsible ownership' and education for responsible animal ownership. He has been National Convenor of the AVA's PetPep program.

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