Companion Animals

Companion animals are sentient beings with intrinsic value and have a special place in our society. While many companion animals are beloved family members and receive constant care and affection, other companion animals – through no fault of their own – are unwanted, unloved and neglected.

We must rethink our relationship with companion animals. Far too many are treated as disposable commodities or fashion accessories, or are subjected to cruelty and neglect. Thousands of animals are killed every year in pounds and shelters. There is much to cherish with companion animals who bring so much joy and affection to our lives. We must pursue change to make their lives better.

The AJP will promote reform to protect the best interests of companion animals consistently across Australia. Addressing the unethical breeding practices and associated oversupply of companion animals is central to solving the many problems they experience. This will create a more animal-friendly society. Like most Australians, we believe that every companion animal deserves a loving home. The AJP supports people living with companion animals.

Key Objectives

Introduce subsidised veterinary care, such as Veticare in Victoria, with priority given to low income earners, pensioners, animal rescuers and carers (see our Veterinary Care policy)
Promote animal adoption (‘Adopt Don’t Shop’), ban the sale of animals from breeders in pet shops and strongly regulate online sale of animals.
Ensure proper Government funding for pounds, shelters, rescues and carers to cater to all lost and homeless animals and prevent euthanasia except when medically necessary.
Provide education on the care of companion animals to promote their wellbeing and prevent cruelty and neglect, strengthen animal cruelty laws to reflect this duty of care and increase resources to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty (see our Animal Law Policy).
Ensure that all companion animals are housed in appropriate environments without undue confinement and are given appropriate care, enrichment, exercise and stimulation according to their individual and species-specific needs. In the case of cats, we support runs that allow outdoor experiences.
Increase desexing levels through targeted government funding for desexing and community education programs.
Outlaw puppy and kitten farming and work towards a nationally consistent Breeder Permit scheme including biometric identification to stop irresponsible breeders and reduce the number of animals without loving homes.
Phase out the breeding of animals with harmful genetic problems and heritable defects.
Repeal breed-specific legislation throughout Australia.
Stop discrimination against tenants with companion animals and increase the availability of animal-friendly accommodation, including retirement homes.
Ensure our cities are friendly to companion animals with suitable toilet and water options, recreational spaces and better animal-friendly public transport.
Include companion animals in probate and guardianship laws so that they can be adequately cared for after the death or incapacitation of a human guardian.

Background

Almost two-thirds of Australian households include at least one companion animal, and there are an estimated 5.1 million dogs, 3.8 million cats, 11.3 million fishes, 5.6 million birds, 614,000 small mammals, 364,000 reptiles and 1.8 million ‘other’ companion animals. They are frequently referred to as ‘pets’, although ‘companion’ better recognises their individuality and sentience. They are individuals with whom a human guardian has a close relationship and are socialised to enjoy the company of people. All these animals have value in themselves as well as to others and deserve consideration and respect. Humans and companion animals can provide benefits to each other, but these relationships also bring responsibilities. A companion animal is not a toy or accessory.

Local and state governments are responsible for overseeing the wellbeing and management of companion animals, including their breeding and sale. But there is little national consistency in these laws. Our legal system regards companion animals not as individuals but as property, with some promise of ‘welfare’. Laws tend to focus on protecting people from danger and nuisance rather than on animals’ wellbeing.

This policy does not cover therapy animals, working animals or rescued farmed animals and focuses only on the animals with whom we share our homes. Most healthy animals of other species who have not co-evolved with humans are generally not suitable as companion animals and should live free. In particular, ‘exotic’ animals that have been taken from the wild should not be kept as companion animals, although it might be legal to do so. Further, researchers have noted that many birds commonly kept as companion animals ‘are only one or two generations removed from the wild’, but even in birds bred for more generations, such as Canaries, Budgerigars, Zebra Finches, Lovebirds and Cockatiels, ‘their behavior and physiology differs little from that of wild individuals’.

Getting to Zero

Thousands of companion animals are killed in pounds and shelters Australia-wide each year. Unfortunately many are healthy and rehomable. Approximately 200,000 dogs are admitted to shelters and pounds each year, and 40,000 of these dogs are killed. The number of cats killed is even higher, with approximately 50,000 being killed in shelters and pounds each year. On average there are 264 healthy dogs and cats killed every day, which is unacceptable.

Thousands of cats, birds, fishes, mice and other animals are also killed. Pounds, shelters and rescues Australia-wide need to be provided with sufficient funding and other support to take care of, return or rehome these animals. In addition to surrendered animals, many cats and dogs are abandoned or allowed to wander and also end up in shelters or worse. We need governments who will stop this welfare crisis.

The primary driver behind these issues is an oversupply of animals by the ‘pet’ industry. For animal shelters to pursue a kill rate of zero, we must reduce the number of new animals and then reimagine ‘owners’ as ‘guardians’.

The first step to achieving this is changing how guardians acquire new companion animals. Currently, animals can be bought from backyard breeders and also cruel intensive puppy farms, kitten farms or other commercial breeding facilities. Breeding so many new animals for profit, many with harmful genetic defects, is unacceptable, especially while so many thousands of companion animals are killed in shelters because there are not enough homes for them all. The ‘market’ is oversaturated.

Breeding comes with a range of wellbeing concerns for companion animals. Regardless of the size of the breeding operation or the financial motives of the breeder, welfare concerns remain constant. Some of these relate to the poor living conditions in which mother dogs and cats are housed, the likelihood of genetic defects, especially in small and 'backyard' operations, and the likelihood of harm caused by inexperienced breeders. Unfortunately, many who accidentally or deliberately breed their companions have little knowledge regarding the proper care of kittens or puppies, and are not equipped to ensure that the offspring find a suitable, loving home. This leaves unwanted kittens or puppies to be disposed of through other means.

Most current regulatory attempts are failing, with companion animals suffering the consequences. Breeders can easily become invisible to attempts at regulation – which varies across Australia – especially with remote breeding facilities and online trading. Even with face-to-face sales, new guardians still cannot ensure that the breeder is meeting expectations in regards to animal health and wellbeing. Existing breeders’ permits or registration fees relate more to management and local government compliance rather than animal welfare. To complicate this problem, standards vary wildly depending on the industry group or regulator responsible for the permits. One solution is to target commercial breeders with tough restrictions and to mandate that anyone selling an animal must have a permit. This will empower guardians to make better-informed decisions about the source of their new companion.

Any animals from breeders could be registered into a national biometric identification system used to keep track of their health and living status. Such data could identify breeders who have high instances of poor animal health or outcomes, with the potential for loss of licence to operate.

Individuals, not commodities

Ensuring that there is a loving home for every companion animal requires shifting attitudes to recognise animals as individuals with wants and needs. Until people view animals as companions rather than ‘pets’, animals will also be bred to meet the desires for ‘designer’ breeds in vogue regardless of the inherent welfare concerns. This is especially true for commercial ‘pet’ shops and online sales.

Brachycephalic (flat-faced, short-nosed) dogs such as Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and Boxers are popular breeds that suffer health problems such as breathing difficulties, heat intolerance, spinal malformations, skin fold and ear infections. Similarly, there is dysfunctional breeding of cats which has created breeds like Persians and Scottish Folds with serious health risks. These often progressive disorders affect the animals’ ability to live comfortably and engage in normal behaviours. Other ‘pure breed’ dogs are also susceptible to health problems. It is cruel to breed dogs when it is known that they will likely develop health problems.

One avenue for reform is the desexing (surgical sterilisation) of companion animals at an appropriate age (as recommended by a veterinarian) to help prevent overpopulation. Desexing of dogs and cats is mandatory in some states and territories and is a requirement of some local governments. The Australian Veterinary Association rejects mandatory desexing, arguing that ‘mandatory desexing of animals has not proven an effective strategy for reducing the number of unwanted companion animals. Mandatory desexing of owned animals also doesn’t account for the impact of semi-owned, stray and feral animals in pet overpopulation.’ In contrast, the RSPCA ‘advocates the mandatory desexing of all domestic dogs and cats who are kept as companion animals’ to prevent unwanted breeding and reduce the number of animals in shelters.

Surgical sterilisation is undertaken by veterinarians and involves a cost to the guardian that can add up to several hundred dollars. Some states offer subsidised sterilisation. For example, Western Australia’s RSPCA Pet Sterilisation Program, which is funded by the State Government, covers 75% of the cost of desexing. Some local governments also offer subsidies for guardians in financial need or discounted registration fees for desexed animals.

Microchipping is not mandatory in all states and territories, and better identification of animals that end up in shelters is needed. The AJP supports mandatory microchipping as it will mean that lost companion animals are easily found and their guardians identified. In particular, the number of reclaimed cats is very low.

AJP will pursue a suite of policy measures addressing oversupply. We will fight for properly empowered and resourced animal protection agencies and publicly available information on all animal breeders. Despite breeders wielding political influence, AJP will not stop its fight for better conditions for companion animals.

Housing and hardship

The RSPCA reports that between 15-30% of animals that are surrendered to shelters are from guardians who could not take their animals to a new rental property. By removing unnecessary barriers for tenants with companion animals we can ensure that guardian and companion remain together. Reforms in Victoria include a presumption in favour of a tenant keeping their companion animal and require landlords to obtain a tribunal order to refuse companions. The AJP hopes to see similar reforms adopted across Australia to help people stay with their beloved animals.

Changes to the guardian’s financial position is another reason for animal surrenders. Therefore, we must rethink how we help those in need, for example ensuring that local food banks have sufficient animal food. We must also ensure that family violence shelters are properly funded and equipped so that they can cater for beloved companions too. Important procedures, like desexing, should be free or heavily subsidised so that those less fortunate do not have to choose between their companion’s wellbeing and making ends meet. By being kinder to human guardians, we are also kinder to companion animals.

Evacuation shelters also need to cater for animals during disasters like floods and fires. Many people will refuse to leave their loved ones behind, so it is kinder and safer to make the arrangements necessary to also care for companion animals.

Dogs on public transport

Given that dogs play an important role in Australian households, they should be permitted to travel on public transport. In particular, people who do not have access to a car need this option to be able to take their dog to the vet, the park or to socialise. Dogs are allowed on public transport in London and elsewhere across Europe and North America. Only a few Australian cities allow dogs on public transport under excessively strict conditions. For example, dogs may have to be kept in some form of container, they may have to wear a muzzle or avoid traveling at certain times of the day. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority now allows pets to fly in cabins, but airlines have been slow to follow this rule change and allow dogs on planes.

Reducing the cruelty and prosecuting offenders

Despite Australians’ overwhelming love for companion animals, each year there are over 50,000 abuse complaints with less than 1% of perpetrators successfully prosecuted. As well as changing our culture to have more respect for animals, we need to overhaul our animal protection laws and enforcement mechanism to not only remove exemptions to cruelty but to introduce new offenses pertaining to the abuse of animals. AJP also advocates for the introduction of new agencies and resources to prevent cruelty and improve enforcement (see our Animal Law policy for more information). Penalties also need to reflect the seriousness of violence towards animals. A national Animal Abuser Registry would help ensure that people who abuse animals can no longer have responsibility for their care.