AWCLO Report

AWCLO

Keeping Fit - Health and Fitness

WORDS Deirdre Crofts Animal Welfare & Community Liaison Officer

Many members may have recently read about the German Government’s plans to legislate mandatory exercising of their residents’ dogs. News headlines across the media were expressing dismay at a law being implemented, requiring dogs to be exercised daily. Reports varied on the details of the exercise regime, but in essence it will call for dogs to be exercised on a lead twice daily for at least an hour in total. The ‘Exercise’ headline drew a lot of comment, as it is quite logical that such a blanket law without consideration of the health and environment of the dogs, could possibly lead to detrimental outcomes for some. We know it is never advisable to exercise our dogs when they are either unwell or if the weather is extreme, but it appears no consideration has been given to these important factors in the drafting of the proposed new law.

Most, if not all of our members, would be well aware that exercise is already written into DOGS NSW Regulations and the Animal Welfare Code of Practice for Breeding Dogs and Cats, however, as a reminder, our dogs should be allowed a minimum of 30 minutes free exercise twice a day, OR 15 minutes minimum lead walking twice a day, under DOGS NSW Regulations Part 14 Clause 10.2.

To refresh your memory and to further understand the DOGS NSW exercise guidelines, please see link: https://www.dogsnsw.org.au/media/1734/part-14-guide-for-care-mgmt-july-18.pdf. We have given due consideration to factors that will impact the safe exercising of our dogs.

As with ourselves, exercise has many benefits that help with enrichment and that also extends to our dogs. Dogs with high energy benefit from being exercised regularly to help prevent bad habits like nuisance barking, hole digging, destruction of property, etc that comes around from boredom. Certainly some dogs require less exercise than others but unless there is a veterinary diagnosis for nil, or very little exercise, all dogs should have some form of exercise daily. It is also very fortunate that NSW has managed Covid-19 very well and mostly has not adversely affected our ability to go out and exercise our dogs.

With the warmer weather coming upon us very quickly and the harsh heat in Australia, exercise should be limited to the cooler parts of the day to prevent heat stress, which can escalate to a serious situation rapidly.

Please all stay safe, have fun and enjoy your dogs.

Contact: Deirdre Crofts E. dcrofts@dogsnsw.org.au P. 02 9834 0205 | M. 0438 400 609

RSPCA NSW future care program gives peace of mind to concerned pet owners

For Suzan Koleda and her husband Peter, their West Highland Terriers are more than just dogs. They consider the two of them, Bonnie and Chloe, their “fur children” and treat them with the same importance. The couple are now reaching a time in life where they are starting to think about the future; about all those uncertainties that tend to accompany getting older. What will happen to their home? Their belongings? Their dogs? “My biggest fear is that if something happens to us, our dogs won’t be looked after in the way that they are used to,” Suzan told RSPCA NSW. In order to dispel that worry, Suzan decided to sign up for the RSPCA NSW Home Ever After (HEA) program.

The program serves to rehome the pets of people who have passed away, either prematurely or from old age, become permanently physically incapacitated, or have had to relocate into a non-pet friendly care home.

The first important part of the HEA process is collecting crucial information about each pet, creating a pet profile. “Our team endeavours to learn everything there is to know, including such things as favourite toys, preferred foods, sleeping habits, vet history, whether they like to be scratched behind the ear…. – all the things only a doting pet owner would know after years of love and care”, Home Ever After Coordinator, Lisa Gledhill explained. Enrollees in the program are provided with resources, such as wallet card and fridge magnet, so emergency services would know who to call, plus a letter for the estate executor providing instructions on the pets’ long-term care.

In the event that the pet does need to be taken into our care, RSPCA is notified, and the pet is collected and assessed for any medical needs. They are then rehomed with an appropriately matched family, using all the information provided by the owner, ensuring the pets retain all the things they are accustomed to. The Home Ever After team also keeps in touch with the adoptive family to make sure everything is running smoothly.

“When owners enrol their pets in the program, they are safeguarding their future by creating their next forever home with the knowledge of the person who knows them best,” Home Ever After Coordinator Lisa Gledhill said. “The Program may never be needed but it’s so important to have a plan and be prepared just in case it ever is.”

The HEA program can also help reopen a door once considered closed by many senior pet lovers. With HEA now as a future care plan option to consider, the possibility of bringing a pet back into a senior pet lovers’ home is a reality. As the pet owning community already knows, there are multiple studies which show there are an array of health benefits associated with owning a pet, especially later in life. These include reducing loneliness through increased sociability, reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and lowering the risk of heart attacks. Owning a pet also gives people a purpose and routine – something that can fade in our senior years. RSPCA NSW even finds it helps to increase senior pet adoptions when we match seniors with seniors.

RSPCA NSW does not ask for payment for this service, but respectfully requests that enrollees leave a Gift in their Will instead. These future gifts will ensure that RSPCA NSW can continue offering community programs to pet owners in need, plus provide vital care and much needed assistance to vulnerable animals across the state.

If you’ve ever asked yourself the question, “If something happens to me, what will happen to my pet?”, the RSPCA Home Ever After program is able to provide an answer. For more information on the program, see www.rspcansw.org/hea-dogsnsw or call 02 9782 4419.

RSPCA - HEA - Strip Ad ƒ.pdf 1 23/10/20 10:22 am

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR PET?

Secure your pet’s future wellbeing and get peace of mind with our tailor-made care plan. Made by you, for your pet. Visit www.rspcansw.org/hea-dogsnsw or call 02 9782 4419.