Copyright: Ioulia Bolchakova

A number of members report recent phone calls from Animal Justice Party activists interrogating pet business owners and staff in the leadup to the NSW election. It’s thought to be an effort by the activists too.

A number of members report phone calls from Animal Justice Party activists interrogating owners and staff in the leadup to the NSW election. It’s thought to be an effort by the activists to “dirty” pet business in the media in an effort to get votes for the NSW election due early in 2019.

Reports are that a number of different people phone over a short time period asking whoever answers the phone whether they have “a staff to an animal ratio of 1:8 at all times”. If not, the caller asks what the ratio actually is, and how the animals are suffering, and then the call proceeds down the activist path. Only at the end of the call does the caller identify that they are from the Animal Justice Party – if they identify at all.

If the callers get a different answer from different staff, they can also use this against the pet business. It’s affecting boarding kennels, breeders, and grooming salons so far. One member’s reports having their businesses “plastered” all over social media when she answered that it would be ridiculous to have a 1:8 staff ratio when all the animals are sleeping.

DO THIS:

1. Laminate the following responses and put them up on the wall above the phone.

(a) Thank you for your interest in our business

(b) We work hard to comply with all relevant Animal Welfare Codes in NSW

(c) We are happy to have the RSPCA inspect our premises under the Code at any time.

( (c) is actually a legal obligation in NSW, so you are stating the obvious, but welcoming inspection is always seen by the receiver as confidence in your business).

2. TRAIN your staff that no matter what the question, those are the answers to be given. If you are re-asked the question in a number of different ways, just re-state these three points and train your staff to do so as well.

3. REPORT any such activity and any harassment to Pets Australia – we keep records of activist activity and regularly report to the Minister and members.

4. CONTACT your local MP and let them know what you are being “campaigned” on – most MPs can really use this information.

If you have any questions, or to report any harassment, contact the office