Friday, 15 June 2018
Animal Welfare Victoria will deliver two webinars on Thursday 21 June at 12.30pm and 6.30pm to Dogs Victoria members on key changes that were included in the Domestic Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms and Pet Shops) Act 2017.
Click here for further details here including how to participate.
Thursday, 7 June 2018
Click here to read the minutes from the meeting of the FCI General Committee which took place on 28 February and 1 March 2018.
Wednesday, 6 June 2018
Below members will find links to the sample template kits. Please note, whilst these documents are not in their final form we hope they demonstrate and provide some clarity to members on the requirements needed to meet ongoing regulatory requirements. As mentioned in our member update, these templates are in the process of being finalised and will be made available to members shortly.
Wednesday, 6 June 2018
Members are reminded of the event on Thursday on the new government regulations starting at 7.30pm at Bulla.
As previously mentioned, Dogs Victoria is unable to livestream the event as it is subject to broadcast restrictions given the government involvement. Members will however be emailed an information guide which will provide relevant information from the sessions. Dogs Victoria is also exploring the possibility of further education resources including online webinars and regional meetings. Additional details will be provided in due course.
Tuesday, 5 June 2018
Members will be aware that Dogs Victoria has been undertaking a review of our Code of Practice. While we have always maintained that Dogs Victoria’s members and breeders set the standards in welfare and animal management practices, our review has found that our Code of Practice needs to be improved to provide better information and guidance to members and the broader community. It needs to also reflect regulatory and legislative changes made both recently and over a number of years prior to now.
With that in mind, Management Committee has made a number of amendments to the Code to provide clarity and guidance on areas such as record keeping, the health and welfare of breeding dogs and bitches, puppy health guarantees and in the requirements around breeding where hereditary diseases may be a concern. A copy of the revised Code of Practice is available HERE, and members are encouraged to read and provide feedback to our dedicated email.
While many of these changes reflect legal requirements, others are in keeping with advances in veterinary care and welfare practices. It is worth noting that governments are increasing animal welfare regulation, particularly around the breeding of domestic animals. While we are familiar with our own experience in Victoria, member breeders in South Australia and Queensland are also now required to follow new welfare regulatory frameworks. Western Australia and New South Wales are in the consultative processes for new welfare regulations/legislation as well. It is clear that, as attitudes to pet ownership have changed over time, governments now view animal welfare as a core community concern.
While we welcome better understanding by community and governments of animal welfare and care, we need to ensure that any regulatory changes are workable. For our members, of utmost importance is the need to keep our independent, self-regulatory status as an Applicable Organisation – something which we almost lost last year, before we successfully campaigned for amendments to the original Puppy Farm Bill. While we have retained our status, we need to understand that Applicable Organisations are expected to set high standards in governance, animal welfare, management practices and breeder education, in return for the exemptions granted to them.
In order to ensure that our members are well equipped to meet these benchmarks, Dogs Victoria will assist through the provision of templates and education. These templates, which include a kennel health plan for breeders and a much improved sales contract (drawn up by solicitors) will provide both guidance and clarity for members in meeting our regulatory requirements. These templates are in the process of being finalised at the moment and will be made available to members shortly. There will also be a range of education tools and materials made available to affiliates and members to complement the templates.It is the strong view of Dogs Victoria that we must be proactive if we are to maintain credibility in our assertion that Dogs Victoria’s members and breeders set the benchmarks in terms of breeding, welfare and animal management practices. Therefore, Dogs Victoria’s role is to act both as an advocate and also to provide support for our members and pedigree dogs more generally, as we look at ways to improve our current structures and practices so that we are better prepared for the future.
Check out our new page entitled 'News from KCC Park Facilities Committee'. Regular updates will be posted here to keep you informed of developments at YOUR member facility.
