Companion Animals Reponse - Feedback form - Dogz Online

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMThe recommended responses have been prepared by the Dogs NSW Steering Committee to assistyou in making your own personal submission on these recommendations.The final reports from the Companion Animal Taskforce have been released and you nowhave an opportunity to have your say on the recommendations.Having your say allows your views and opinions to be considered by the NSWGovernment prior to any final decisions being made.You can have your say by completing the online feedback form. The closing date is Friday10 May 2013.The two reports can be downloaded at: http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.auYour details:Name:Organisation Name/Interest Group Name:Interested IndividualPlease provide a contact detail (if we need to contact you – this information will be keptconfidential):Phone:Email Address:Interest group:Animal Welfare/Rescue/Shelter Group Community group Council State agency Member of registered breeder body Other industry organisation Interested individual X Other: If ‘Other’, please specify:Your NSW council area:____________________________________________________________________________Note: ‘Please be aware that DLG will treat ALL submissions as being available for publication unless thereare strong public interest or legal reasons against publication. The DLG will not accept anonymous or‘confidential’ submissions.’Dogs NSW - Recommended Feedback Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternativelycomplete online http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp1

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMQUESTIONSPlease indicate if you agree with each Taskforce Recommendation and its level ofpriority. The survey also includes questions relating to the recommendations of theTaskforce. Comments can be made at the end of this form.Detailed information on each recommendation is included in the Management ofDangerous Dogs Report (DD Report) and the Companion Animals TaskforceReport (CA Report). Similar recommendations have been grouped below and donot appear in the same order as the reports.The two Taskforce reports can be downloaded at: http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.auDANGEROUS DOGSRecommendation 1.1Amend the Companions Animals Act to introduce a “potentially dangerous” dog categoryfor less serious dog attacks/incidents. (DD Report p.11)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 1.2Introduce provisions in the Companions Animals Act for a “dangerous” or“potentially dangerous dog” declaration to be revoked if medical issues are resolvedand behavioural training is undertaken for the dog in question and the council issatisfied that it is appropriate to do so. (DD Report p.12)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Dogs NSW - Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively completeonline http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp2

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMRecommendation 1.3Update the dog attack reporting framework to more clearly differentiate between“dog attacks” and less serious incidents involving dogs. (DD Report p.14)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 1.4Review existing powers of council officers under the Companion Animals Act relating tothe seizure of dogs subject to dangerous or restricted dog declarations for the purposes ofidentification. (DD Report p.15)Agree:Priority:Yes High XNo XMedium Unsure Low Recommendation 1.5Review the statute of limitations under which councils can prosecute dog attackoffences to ensure that it is in-line with other relevant legislation. (DD Report p.16)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 2.1Introduce annual registration of cats and dogs and a breeder licensing system toimprove the ability of councils to track dangerous dogs through their lifecycle. (DDReport p.18)Agree:Priority:Yes High XNo XMedium Unsure Low Dogs NSW - Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively completeonline http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp3

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMRecommendation 2.2Develop a model behavioural assessment for the use of councils and otherimpounding agencies. (DD Report p.19)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 2.4Improve the dissemination of information about disqualified animal owners. (DDReport p.20)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 3.1Develop a Memorandum of Understanding template for use by councils and NSWPolice regarding the enforcement of the CA Act. (DD Report p.21)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 3.2Develop a Memorandum of Understanding between councils, animal welfareorganisations and relevant State Government agencies to standardise informationsharing protocols in relation to dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs. (DD Reportp.22)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Dogs NSW - Recommendations on HOW TO VOTE (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternativelycomplete online http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp4

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMRecommendation 3.3Strengthen cross-agency delivery of educational resources on dog attack anddangerous dog issues. (DD Report p.23)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 3.5Amend the CA Act to allow councils to automatically declare a dog to be dangerousor potentially dangerous if they receive confirmation that the dog is the subject ofsuch a declaration in another jurisdiction. (DD Report p.25)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Other questions about dangerous dogs:A. Is there a need for further breed-specific provisions in the Companion AnimalsAct that restrict the ownership of particular breeds of dog?Agree:Priority:Yes High XNo XMedium Unsure Low WORKING GROUPRecommendation 3.4The Minister for Local Government and NSW Attorney General should write to theFederal Attorney General to request that a cross-jurisdictional working group beestablished to develop a national dog attack and dangerous dog database. (DDReport p.24)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Dogs NSW - Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively complete5online http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMRecommendation 3.6Establish a working group to improve dog attack data captured by hospitals andgeneral practitioners. (DD Report p.25)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 22An ongoing reference group on cat and dog management issues should beestablished. (CA Report p.33)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low RESEARCH FUNDINGRecommendation 2.3Provide funding for research into dangerous dog issues. (DD Report p.20)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 18Funding should be provided for research into key cat and dog issues. (CA Report p.28)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Dogs NSW - Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively completeonline http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp6

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMREGISTRATIONRecommendation 8The Companion Animals Act should be amended to require cats and dogs to beregistered on an annual basis. (CA Report p.16)Agree:Priority:Yes High XNo XMedium Unsure Low Recommendation 9Cat and dog registration fees should be reviewed and set at such a level to providean additional incentive for owners to desex their animals. (CA Report p.18)Agree:Priority:Yes High XNo XMedium Unsure Low Recommendation 10The Companion Animals Regulation should be amended to require a cat to beregistered from the time it is 4 months of age. (CA Report p.19)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 11The Companion Animal Regulation should be amended to allow cat and dogregistration fees to be indexed to the Consumer Price Index. (CA Report p.21)Agree:Priority:Yes High XNo XMedium Unsure Low Dogs NSW - Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively completeonline http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp7

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMRecommendation 12A new discounted registration category ‘Desexed animal – purchased from a poundor shelter’ should be established to further encourage the purchase of desexed catsand dogs. (CA Report p.21)Agree:Priority:Yes High XNo XMedium Unsure Low Other questions about registrationB. Which type of animals should continue to be lifetime registered (i.e. only once)rather than on an annual basis? (Select all that apply)Desexed Dogs Undesexed Dogs Desexed Cats Undesexed Cats All should be registered once X All should be registered annually C. Should undesexed animals attract a higher lifetime registration fee whencompared to desexed animals?Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low D. What is an appropriate lifetime registration fee for a desexed animal (currently$40)? (Select one)Less than $40 $40 X Fee should be annual $40-$60 $60-$80 $80-$100 More than $100 E. What is an appropriate once-off registration fee for an undesexed animal(currently $150)? (Select one)Less than $150 $150 X Fee should be annual $150-$200 $200-250 $250-$300 More than $300 Dogs NSW - Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively completeonline http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp8

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMF. Which companion animal categories should attract a discount on registration?(Select all that apply)Animal over 4 years old Animal over 8 years old Animal purchased from a council pound XAnimal purchased from a shelter XUndesexed animal from registered breeder XUndesexed animal not held for breeding No discounts for any animalG. Should there be public access to the register, allowing individuals and groups toaccess details of pets they have registered, update their details, and register newanimals from a private computer?Agree:Priority:Yes High XNo XMedium Unsure Low ANIMAL WELFARERecommendation 1A breeder licensing system should be established and the Companion AnimalsRegister should be updated to capture breeder license information for each animalrecord. (CA Report p.6)Agree:Priority:Yes High XNo X Note COMMENTS Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 2The Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Breeding Dogs and Cats should be revisedto ensure that the existing guidelines it contains become enforceable standards. (CAReport p.8)Agree:Priority:Yes High XNo XMedium Unsure Low Dogs NSW - Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively complete9online http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMRecommendation 3Relevant animal welfare codes of practice should be amended to require the sellersof cats and dogs to display an animal’s microchip number (or the license number ofthe breeder of an animal) in all advertisements, and at point of sale in the case ofpet shops, markets and fairs. (CA Report p.9)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 4The Companion Animals Regulation should be amended to remove the existingprovision that allows recognised breeders to sell unmicrochipped cats or dogs topet shops. (CA Report p.11)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 7Relevant animal welfare codes of practice should be updated to require that at leastone staff member working in a pet shop, breeding establishment, point or animalshelter must hold a Certificate II – Animal Studies qualification. (CA Report p.15)Agree:Priority:Yes High XNo XMedium Unsure Low Recommendation 13A grant funding program should be established for councils and partnerorganisations to deliver targeted microchipping, registration and desexingprograms. (CA Report p.22)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Dogs NSW - Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively completeonline http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp10

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMRecommendation 19Better practice guidelines should be issued to councils with a view to standardisingimpounding practices. (CA Report p.29)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Other questions about animal welfare:H. If a breeder licensing system were to be established, who should be included asa breeder? (Select all that apply)Member of a Recognised Breeder Body(eg accredited member of Dogs NSW)Breeder operating a breeding business(that is not a member of recognised breeder body)Non-commercial breeder (eg. sale of a one-off litter)No breeder should be included XEDUCATIONPlease order the six educational recommendations in order of priority 1-6 (1 beinghighest, 6 being lowest)Recommendation 4.1As part of a community-wide socially responsible pet education campaign, reviewand update existing dog bite prevention and dangerous dog managementeducational resources for the public, councils and other agencies. (DD Report p.27)Agree:Priority:Yes X1 2 No 3 4 XUnsure 5 6 Dogs NSW - Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively completeonline http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp11

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMRecommendation 5An information sheet should be issued in relation to the advertising and sale of catsand dogs. (CA Report p.12)Agree:Priority:Yes X1 X 2 No 3 4 Unsure 5 6 Recommendation 6Mandatory standardised information on socially responsible pet ownership shouldbe developed to be given out at point of sale. (CA Report p.13)Agree:Priority:Yes X1 2 XNo 3 4 Unsure 5 6 Recommendation 15A community-wide socially responsible pet ownership education campaign shouldbe developed. (CA Report p.25)Agree:Priority:Yes X1 2 No 3 4 Unsure 5 6 XRecommendation 16The socially responsible pet ownership school-based education program should beexpanded to include the preschool age group. (CA Report p.26)Agree:Priority:Yes X1 2 No 3 4 Unsure 5 X 6 Dogs NSW -Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively completeonline http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp12

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMRecommendation 17Comprehensive education material about the importance of confining cats to theirowner’s property should be developed. (CA Report p.27)Agree:Priority:Yes X1 2 No 3 X 4 Unsure 5 6 DATA MANAGEMENTRecommendation 14.1Encourage breeder groups and animal welfare organisations listed in theCompanion Animals Act to become ‘registration agents’, allowing them to processregistration fees and change animal details. (CA Report p.23)Agree:13Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 14.2Establish a fee for service model for registration agents to encourage uptake of thisrole, whereby an amount of registration fee for each cat and dog they process isremitted to them from the Companion Animals fund. (CA Report p.23)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 14.3Update the Register to streamline data entry processes and introduce ‘self-service’data entry options for owners to update their contact details. (CA Report p.23)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Dogs NSW - Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively completeonline http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMRecommendation 14.4Undertake a campaign to increase compliance with the registration requirements ofthe CA Act, by targeting the owners of cats and dogs of registration age that arelisted on the CA Register as not registered. (CA Report p.23)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Recommendation 20The Companion Animals Register should be updated to provide a centralisedimpounded animal management tool for use by all councils, relevant State agenciesand animal welfare organisations. (CA Report p.31)Agree:Priority:Yes XHigh XNo Medium Unsure Low Additional commentsPlease write down any additional comments you have.I agree with the overall thrust of Recommendation 1 that all Breeders should belicenced, but the question as it has been framed in the Feedback Form, has theimplication that Breeders already registered (licenced) by Royal NSW Canine CouncilLtd (trading as Dogs NSW) would still be subject to the new licencing scheme, aproposition with which I do not agree, and have consequently selected NO in myresponse. I do however support proposition 2 in Recommendation 1, using my DogsNSW Licence No..Dogs NSW - Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively completeonline http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp14

COMPANION ANIMALS RESPONSEFEEDBACK FORMThank you for taking the time to provide this feedback. This form can be completed andsubmitted online at http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/Completed forms can also be forwarded to:Companion Animals ResponseDivision of Local GovernmentLocked Bag 3015NOWRA NSW 2541Email: CAResponse@dlg.nsw.gov.auDogs NSW - Recommended Responses (please print blank form and complete by hand or alternatively completeonline http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/eventregistration/eventstaskforce/TaskForceRegister.asp15