, FELINE the ethical issue
Contents Page 01-10
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Ethical ownership Abandoned Did you know? Death toll Making the ethical choice
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Ethical Ownership It is rare to find someone who doesn’t like animals, whether it be a puppy or a kitten the majority of people enjoy to pat and play with these cute creatures. Australia has the highest incidence of pet ownership in the world with 66% of Australian households owning 1 or more pets. (Animals Australia, 2015) The sad truth is that even though the majority of Australians enjoy the company of animals, they tend to forget the hard work and hours that must go into having a pet of their own. Owners who choose a puppy or a kitten tend to live in the moment, forgetting that one day that cute baby animal will grow up and one day it may lose the cute factor or be hard to manage. Countless households are unprepared for the commitment that is necessary to raise and own a household pet, which results in tens of thousands of unwanted animals every year surrendered to animal shelters. Many more are abandoned in areas where their likely fate is death by accident, starvation, disease or from predators. (Animals Australia, 2015) Those that are lucky enough to be surrendered have the possibility of being rehomed to a suitable household, unfortunately for many of the animals surrendered re-homing is not an option, or a guarantee. With the influx of animals surrendered each year, the possibility of each and every animal finding their forever home becomes more unlikely, and if the animal does not get re-homed in a specific amount of time they will be put down. This is a sad realisation that many potential pet owners are unaware of, many assume if things don’t work out with their pet they will easily and readily be able to organize an alternative home.
“Abandoned in areas where their likely fate is death�
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Did you know? The biggest battle that animal welfare groups have had to deal with is the fact that majority of the population are oblivious or in denial to the cruelty and pain that many of these animals go through. It’s a vicious cycle that groups such as Pets Haven and the RSPCA are constantly trying to break. Numerous possible pet owners want specialised breeds which usually come with a high price tag. This leads to the exploration of alternative options where the moral compass goes out the window, usually for the benefit of their budget. For example, the platform Gumtree provides users a source for cheaper options when looking to buy something. If someone was looking for a French bulldog and they were using Gumtree they would be flooded with numerous options, some legitimate but many not. There are plenty of warning signs that many are unaware of, with cost usually the biggest indicator of an unregulated breeder. Advertisements with stories such as ‘my dog got out, and had a litter’ is a common explanation which usually comes with a low price tag. Users ignorance or plain clouded judgment (usually to do with the bargain they believe they are receiving) provides unregulated breeders with an opportunity to continue selling animals undetected. Buying a pet from an unregulated breeder comes with the risk of health complications due to inbreeding, the chance of having lived its whole short life suffering in a filthy cramped cage and never being treated with compassion. But the worst part is that it funds the unethical criminal activity of the unregulated breeder.
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“As many as 250,000 cats and dogs are destroyed each year in Australia alone”
Death toll As many as 250,000 cats and dogs are destroyed each year in Australia alone, and the sad truth is that many do not realize is ultimately a problem created by our own greed. The want and need for companionship has lead to irresponsible owners, who do not believe they are part of the problem. Most owners will justify the reason behind why they have chosen not to desex their pet, ultimately leading to unwanted/accidental litters. Everyone knows someone who’s pet has had a litter; they do not realize that they are creating more opportunities for one or more of those poor animals to end up in a shelter or euthanized. In the end it’s shelter workers, nurses and vets that ultimately bear the burden of unwanted animals. ‘’They are doing the euthanizing. That is traumatic - no one wants to kill animals.’’ (Brown, 2010) But there is still hope. Since 1997 to 2005 there has been a 40% decline in the euthanasia rate. (Pet Rescue, 2015) This has come from the tireless efforts of animal welfare groups to create awareness of overpopulation and the cruelty that many animals have suffered. There are now over 14 ‘No Kill’ shelters in Victoria, which rely on the kindness of others who care and donate for these animals.
Making the ethical choice Not only that but now in Phoenix USA, new laws have now been introduced to ban pet stores from sourcing and selling animals from commercial breeders. Pet stores in Phoenix must now source all their animals from shelters and rescue groups. (Hanson, 2015) This is a huge step forward for animal welfare groups. By implementing these laws, it provides a method which helps minimize breeders from having readily available sources to supply to. Awareness is the key. There are now more opportunities than ever to make a difference, with de-sexing, fostering and adoption as part of the solution. If one is unsure that a pet is right for their household, they have the option of fostering a pet with a return date. Volunteering is also a good way to see if you’re actually cut out for the responsibilities that come with looking after another living creature. A pet should be cared for and loved its entire life, no ifs or buts about it. If you can’t afford to pay the premium price for that fancy French bulldog or fantastically fluffy Maine Coon, just don’t buy it. It’s as easy as that. Every ethical choice counts.
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References: Animals Australia. (2015). Companion Animals Fact Sheet. Retrieved 8 October 2015, from http://www.animalsaustralia.org/documents/factsheets/CompanionAnimalsFactSheet.pdf Browne, R. (2010). Truth about cats and dogs: 250,000 killed every year. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 October 2015, from http:// www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/truthabout-cats-and-dogs-250000-killed-every-year20100605-xlr4.html Hanson, H. (2015). Judge Rules All Phoenix Pet Store Cats And Dogs Must Be Shelter Animals. The Huffington Post. Retrieved 8 October 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/phoenix-pet-store-law_55cd136be4b07addcb4284b1?section=australia&adsSiteOverride=au Pet Rescue. (2015). Why adopt?. Retrieved 8 October 2015, from https://www.petrescue.com.au/ library/articles/why-adopt Barrowclough, A. (2015). Puppy factories: How Oscar the dog inspired a campaign to close them. TheAustralian. Retrieved 8 October 2015, from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/weekend-australian-magazine/puppy-factories-how-oscar-the-dog-inspired-a-campaign-to-close-them/ story-e6frg8h6-1227532813232