When a horse died on the first day of the Victorian jumps season, the RSPCA pronounced loudly that these animals deserved protection from those who cause them an unnecessary death.
When the duck season started and the hunters opened fire, the RSPCA declared loudly that shooting animals was barbaric.
When cats were injured last year by callous abusers, the Cat Protection Society spoke loudly in condemnation of anyone who would take a loved family pet and kill it.
And when Buckley, a small puppy with hacked off ears was found, the Lost Dogs Home campaigned loudly about the rights for animals to be kept safe from harm and given a chance to live.
All of these animal welfare mantras were championed loudly because they are at the heart of animal welfare lobbying.
Demanding that animals don’t suffer unnecessary death.
Protection for animals from being arbitrarily shot.
The rights for pets to live with their families, and not be snatched and killed.
And the right for pets to receive treatment and be given a second chance with a new family.
So in the face of the new Code of Practice for Pounds and Shelters; which protects pounds who unnecessary kill pets, protects shelters who choose shooting as their preferred method of killing, allows pounds to hold pets with no obligation to make an effort to find their families, and allows killing to be the preferred method of animal management, rather than mandating that pets be offered treatment, care and release to a loving foster home… one might have assumed that these groups would be speaking very loudly indeed.
After all these groups, the largest pounds in the state, claim to have lobbied for these rights for animals for decades.
But no. When it comes to speaking up for animals, loudly is reserved for outsiders. Loudly is neither political, nor profitable when the mandates for compassion and life saving are being turned inwards and upon the animal welfare groups themselves. The same animal rights that are campaigned for loudly and rightfully in other animal industries, are forfeited once a dog or a cat enters an animal shelter in Victoria.
Softly is the approach now. No outrage. No media campaign. No graphic photos of dead and dying animals. No community call to arms. No petitions. No Facebook announcements. No fanfare. Not so much as a position statement. Just three animal welfare groups on the board that advises on this Code, quietly negotiating the best outcomes for themselves. Three groups with the ability to, and a history of, drawing attention to unjust and cruel practices and from all three, radio silence. Not one wanting to be seen to be publicly supporting this legislation in the eyes of the community, but none willing to stand up and condemn it.
Protecting animals has a place. After protecting empires. After protecting fortunes. And after protecting pounds and shelters rights to kill without question.
Further reading: Changes to VIC code of practice for shelters (and why you should care)
