Euthanasia of healthy pets is dropping in key countries, according to a number of recent reports. A USA report suggests success in reducing pet euthanasia, and data suggests that euthanasia is on the way down in Australia as well

 Noting that RSPCA is the primary operator of shelters in Australia and also operates a number of pounds, even if the figures are doubled to account for other shelters/pounds the data suggests that the oft quoted figure of 250,000 animals euthanased per year has really dropped considerably – possibly by as much as 35-40% – which is a great result for pets in Australia .

Now the ASPCA in the USA is having success as well, with more than 17,000 pets saved in a recent program. 

How are they doing it? With: 

– quality collection of statistics, which counts pets that are euthanased due to incurable disease, pets euthanaised due to ‘lack of space”,  and pets that are so mistreated that they cannot be saved as separate to health pet euthanasia. These statistics are not collected in Australia

– better marketing of shelter pets – as quality, behaviour tested companions, not as cast offs. Recent data shows that advertising these pets as “will be killed” is actually a negative to adoption

– putting pragmatism ahead of dogma – by marketing shelter pets through pet shops (sometimes alongside puppies & kittens), and by making it as easy as possible to adopt.

– reducing re-admission of previously surrendered pets, with quality behavioural assessment and training, better matching of pets with families (especially cats) and good follow up of adopting families after adoption. 

REMEMBER: Only around 2% of pets in Australia are surrendered, which means that 98% are not. While even one euthanasia of a healthy pet is too much, let’s celebrate the achievements in reducing euthanasia!
  

Customers are catching businesses unawares with new ACCC warranty and guarantee laws that came into effect on Jan 1.

 Pet businesses are being “caught out” by clients who in many cases are misinterpreting the new rules covering consumer guarantees and warranties. Correct wording for warranties on goods is provided at the end of this section.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says under new standardised consumer guarantees businesses should be aware of the rights a consumer has for a refund, repair or replacement of faulty products or product that don’t do what they advertise.

If it doesn’t do what it says on the box, or what the salesperson told you it would do, the law allows you to have it repaired, replaced or refunded, the ACCC says.

Under Australian Consumer Law (ACL), goods and services must:

• Be of acceptable quality.
• Be fit for purpose.
• Match the description.
• Match any sample or demonstration model.
• Meet any extra promises made by the supplier.

The changes also mean that companies can offer warranties in addition to what’s already covered by ACL, but can’t offer less than the above.

Also poorly udnerstood are new regulations amending the unsolicited consumer agreement provisions to provide a 10-day cooling off period for goods prices under $500.

This will allow businesses to immediately supply goods that consumers have consented to buy but does not allow the business to supply services or accept payment for goods within the cooling off period, according to the ACCC .

The ACCC says under the laws, businesses providing documents evidencing warranties against defects with their good and services “must present it in a certain way and must include specific information to ensure that consumers understand the warranty and know how to make a claim”.

Importantly, the document must also include information about consumers’ rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

Infringement notices for infringement notices for defects and repairs are $6,600 for companies and $1,320 for individuals. Court action attracts maximum fines of $50,0000 for companies and $10,000 for individuals.

The ACCC says for stock in the supply chain manufactured and packaged prior to 1 November 2011, it will take into account until September 2012:

• Whether there are serious practical difficulties in updating warranty documents.
• Whether the supplier has taken all reasonable steps to otherwise convey the mandatory text and information required by the ACL to consumers.

READ the ACCC information on the difference between warranties and guarantees

HOW TO WORD YOUR WARRANTY!     Warranties against defects – the Regulations

The ACL also includes some specific requirements in relation to voluntary warranties or warranties against defects. These requirements are contained in the Trade Practices (Australian Consumer Law) Regulations 2010 (No. 1) (the Regulations).

The Regulations require that businesses must:

• give warranties against defects in a transparent document stating what business giving the warranty and the consumer must be do for the warranty to be honoured
• prominently state the name of the person giving the warranty, their business address, telephone number and email address (if any)
• state the length of the warranty
• set out the procedure that a consumer must follow to obtain a remedy under the warranty
• state who will bear the costs associated with making a warranty claim, e.g. the
• state the benefits that the warranty gives in addition to the rights and remedies under the consumer guarantees
• include the text:
  Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.

These requirements apply from 1 January 2012 

 Fears that Rabies in Bali will spread to Australia have surfaced in the news, as Indonesia continues to fight the disease spread.

 See News Reports HERE

What Is Rabies? Rabies is a virus disease of all warm blooded animals, including man and has a death rate of close to 100% if it is not prevented either by vaccination or between a bite and the first sign of disease.  It is transmitted from animal to animal mainly via saliva from bites, and It causes acute inflammation of the brain. It occurs in more than 150 countries

Thanks to DAFF for this image

and kills more than 55,000 people per year with 40% of these under 15 years of age and dogs the source of 99% of human rabies deaths.Australiahas been protected from the disease largely because it is an island.

 The WHO says rabies is already in Australia!?? The virus is a Lyssavirus, related to Hendra Virus so closely that the World Health Organisation (WHO) actually lists Australiaas no longer rabies-free.  BUT the Hendra virus is very different to classical rabies – firstly it only seems to transmit between horses, humans and bats and secondly vaccination for rabies doesn’t work for Hendra. There is a handy fact sheet on the difference between classical rabies and Bat Lyssavirus (Hendra Virus) HERE   

Why should Australia worry about rabies entering the country? It would be almost impossible to remove the virus fromAustralia, because we have significant wildlife and particularly feral animal colonies living closely with humans and their dogs. Even in remoteAustralia, camels and feral pigs would provide a reservoir for this disease. Closer to cities and towns, possums, feral cats, wild dogs and other mammals would keep the virus circulating.

 The disease entering Australia would also cause significant trade problems – destroyingAustralia’s “clean green image” and slashing agricultural exports.

Initially the pet industry would be destroyed as panic spread and pets would be dumped in shelters or worse, in the bush. All pets would have to be vaccinated annually or every three years.

What can we do?

1. When holidaying overseas don’t touch any animals, including dogs & cats, unless the owner has advised you it’s OK.
2. If you can help by supporting rabies control programs overseas, do so.
3. Take quarantine seriously – it’s our best line of defence
4. If rabies does occur inAustralia, get educated and help your friends and colleagues get educated as well.   

See what rabies does to humans and animals HERE