Page 1618 - Week 04 - Thursday, 25 March 2010
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The Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) has reviewed the Code of Practice for the Care and Management of Animals in Pet Shops (1993). The reviewed Pet Shop Code was referred to stakeholders for comment and relevant comments have been incorporated into the new code. The new code will be known as The Code of Practice for the Sale of Animals in the ACT (other than from saleyards).
(2) Pet stores in the ACT must hold a licence to sell, import or export native animals under the Nature Conservation Act 1980, and to import live fish species under the Fisheries Act 2000. Pet shops must also conform to the ACT Reptile Policy. No native animal can be taken from the wild to be kept or sold without a licence.
(3) The Government is not aware of any ACT trade in puppies sourced through what have been termed as ‘puppy farms or puppy mills’. The Government has sought advice from the RSPCA ACT detailing issues of concern with the supply of puppies and other animals through pet shops and details of any connection in the ACT to known or suspected puppy farms or puppy mills. To date, that further advice has not been received from the RSPCA ACT. TAMS advises that whilst puppy breeding is taking place in the ACT, it is limited to small scale residential breeders who primarily sell the puppies and kittens on either the internet or through local classified advertisements.
(4) Should evidence of such trade be forthcoming both the RSPCA and Government officers will investigate any suggestion of breaches of the Animal Welfare Act 1992 and if necessary, liaise with officials of other jurisdictions.
(5) TAMS advise that puppies and kittens are not euthanased due to the length of time they have been displayed for sale; generally the only reason for euthanasia of kittens and puppies from pet shops is for severe genetic defects and/or major health problems. Normally puppies and kittens are sold within two weeks of display. If for some reason a puppy or kitten has not been sold, pets shops utilise discounts or other marketing tools to recoup the cost of that animal, rather than incur the additional costs associated with euthanasia.
(6) There are no laws in the ACT governing or prohibiting the euthanasia of animals, from a pet shop, if that process is undertaken by a licensed veterinarian.
(7) In the ACT, the majority of domestic animals that are euthanased are euthanased practicing veterinarians in private clinics; consequently the statistical information sought by the Member is unavailable.
(8) The cost of euthanasing animals that are privately-owned is borne by the owner. The funding of euthanasia of animals by Domestic Animal Services is provided within TAMS annual operational budget.
Government—payment of invoices
(Question No 585)
Mr Seselja asked Minister for Planning, upon notice, on 11 February 2010:
How many invoices were received by each department or agency in the Minister’s portfolio in (a) July, (b) August, (c) September, (d) October, (e) November and (f)
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