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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 10 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 3090 ..

Adjournment

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

RSPCA

Make-a-Wish Foundation

MR SMYTH (6.09): Mr Speaker, I rise this evening to bring to the attention of members the good work of the RSPCA. As members would be aware, over recent years we have amended the domestic animal legislation to make sure that we have a more humane society.

I wish to bring to members' attention the statistics on dogs and cats that have been euthanased. In 1998-99, 469 dogs were euthanased at the pound the RSPCA runs. In 1999-2000 the number was down to 334. In 2000-01 it was 257, and in the year 2001-02 it dropped to 129. The percentage also dropped from 24.7 per cent to 15.6 per cent to 13.6 per cent to 7.5 per cent of animals received at the RSPCA facility at Weston.

These are just some of the statistics that are available. I cannot help noticing many ads in the weekend newspaper by unregistered breeders selling pups. Perhaps we should now look at giving the RSPCA the power to chase up some of these ads and help the government in enforcing the dog and cat laws.

There is a similar situation for cats. The cat percentage has dropped only slightly. It was 52 per cent in 1998-99 and it is now down to 34.8 per cent. So there is still some work to be done on the number of cats and kittens that are euthanased at the RSPCA. We should work together towards the day when no animal needs be euthanased in the ACT because we have responsible pet owners.

Mr Speaker, another matter I would like to address tonight is the 2002 Wish Ball that was run by the Canberra branch of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. It was a very successful night for a very important organisation. Dusanka Simic and her crowd of volunteers and helpers are to be congratulated for the money they raise and the wishes they dispense to less well off Canberrans who are suffering from cancer, particularly our young ones.

It is important that we back up the organisations that sponsor such a night, because they do a good job. The booklet issued on the night lists as the principal sponsors the Calvary Private Hospital, the Canberra Times, Carlton and United Breweries, Dan Murphy's, Elect Printing, the Hellenic Club of Canberra, the Queanbeyan Age, Schweppes, Southcorp Wines, Tooheys and the Woden Tradesmen's Union Club.

Some of the minor sponsors listed as supporters are Cockington Green, Entertainment Publishing, Video Ezy Charnwood and Kippax, the Pumpkin Patch, the Southern Cross Club, Murrays Australia, Greater Union Cinemas, Willow Park, Magnet Mart Phillip, the Essendon Football Club, as well as the Tuggeranong Valley Rugby Union Club. It is important that we support those organisations that support us.

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