Tuesday 1st June: D-day For Nsw Dogs And Their Owners

Tuesday 1st June: D-Day for NSW dogs and their Owners
New state law may have far-reaching implications for dog owners in NSW

A new State law (which is due for review in the Legislative Council tomorrow) will cause real headaches for all NSW dog owners who take their pets to outdoor dining areas, by banning the most effective tool to train and manage a pooch: the reward of a simple treat for good behaviour.

Leading canine bodies Dogs NSW and the Delta Society (Australia's leading dog training organisation) have banded together with Sydney's popular venue Cafe Bones (www.cafebones.com.au) to call upon the State Government to properly think through the implications of three proposed amendments to the Companion Animals Act. Award-winning animal behaviouralist Paul McGreevy (Associate Professor, University of Sydney Faculty of Veterinary Science) is also in agreement.

The three contentious clauses in the proposed new law are as follows:

1. Dogs will not be allowed to be fed in dining areas. Whilst sensible in
regards to human food, a rewarding treat for good behaviour and training will
be prohibited.

2. All dogs must remain on the ground in its current form the proposed
legislation prohibits owners from picking up a small dog off the ground to
diffuse a potentially threatening situation.

3. All visitors to cafes will be required to have their dogs on a leash at all
times. Whilst necessary in a normal kerbside cafe venue, the law does not
take into consideration cafes in off-leash areas. Leashed dogs in off-leash
areas can become more aggressive than normal if they feel threatened.

"Whilst the legislation comes from a good place, and is ultimately aimed at regulating dogs in cafe environments, certain clauses have the potential to make life very difficult for dog owners in NSW who enjoy taking their pets to cafes," said Michael Lloyd-Jones, co-proprietor of Cafe Bones.

Lloyd-Jones believes very few NSW dog owners currently realise how problematic the new law may be. Dr Peter Higgins, media spokesperson from Dogs NSW, shares Michael Lloyd-Jones' concern.

"The proposed amendments are of great concern to Dogs NSW because it is an issue of animal welfare," said Dr Higgins. "Not being able to reward a dog for good behaviour, or pick it up to diffuse a potentially aggressive situation, means ultimately the dog's well-being is affected."

Lloyd-Jones and supporters of the cause (current petition numbers are close to 1000) are hoping to bring this issue to the attention of all NSW dog owners.

"I'm sure whether you like dogs or not, we would all agree it's better to have well-behaved dogs around, rather than the alternative," said Michael Lloyd-Jones. "It does not make sense to remove effective training tools when good behaviour is so important in these environments."

The groups are requesting that the State Upper House reconsiders the abovementioned three clauses. This would involve granting an exemption from amendments 14a Section (1), Parts (a), (b) and (c), but retaining Section (1), Part (a) which states "dogs (must) be under the effective control of some competent person".

For further information or to arrange an interview with Michael Lloyd-Jones or Dr Peter Higgins, please contact:
Sophie Blue from Blue Planet Public Relations on
0416 006 821 or (02) 9555 8080.

SOURCE: Blue Planet PR