Nathan Winograd’s ‘Redemption’ details the great betrayal of animals which took place in the early 20th century when the ASPCA, lured by the promise of regular income, abandoned their traditional platforms of advocacy and cruelty prosecutions in favour of running animal pounds on behalf of cities.
This compromise of principals (moving from animal protection, to animal management), was no doubt done with good intentions. However the unfortunate reality was, once the organisation became intertwined as participants in the very abuse they were looking to abolish, the drive for genuine change got pushed aside by the day-to-day ordeal of disposing of the city’s pets. Killing became the centrepiece of shelter strategy which prevails even today.
Just as the ASPCA was romanced by the idea they could improve the outcomes for pound dogs by joining forces with the pound operators, our modern major animal welfare groups are falling for similar snake-oil promises today. After a decade of progress in awareness of – and ultimately the rejection of – puppy farming in our country, the RSPCA has joined forces with the peak body for the farming of companion animals in Australia; The Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA).
The Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA) today released its Dogs Lifetime Guarantee Policy on Traceability and Re-homing.
The PIAA policy, effective in NSW from 1 October 2012, guarantees that; Dogs purchased from PIAA member retail stores are sourced from PIAA approved breeders who meet animal welfare standards and whose operation are subject to independent audit by a veterinarian each year.
Any dog purchased from a PIAA member that is subsequently abandoned by its owner will be re-homed and saved from euthanasia. The first state to implement PIAA re-homing is NSW, where PIAA has partnered with RSPCA NSW.
But why would an animal welfare group support puppy farming?
Just like the ASPCA more than 100 years ago this relationship is founded, no doubt, on good intentions. The RSPCA is presumably paid an amount per-animal by the PIAA for doing work they would have done anyway, which seems like a good deal for pets. The RSPCA, like us all, wants to see the industry cleaned up, so believes that supporting a supposedly more ‘humane’ choice could be the way forward in improving outcomes for pets.
But if history is anything to go by; they’d be wrong.
By compromising their position and ‘joining forces’ with animal control, the ASPCA was no longer able to push to protect pets. The RSPCA, by putting their badge of approval on puppy farming, and negotiating to provide ongoing services to them, removes any drive to eliminate the cruel industry in its entirety.
We know companion animals who live on farms and are bred commercially – even if they are on a farm deemed acceptable under legislation – are suffering. We know companion animals bred in farms go on to have physical, social and psychological problems which interfere with their ability to be a ‘good’ pet.
While the RSPCA have gone one step further, even helping the PIAA re-badge what their commercial breeder members do – farm dogs – to something more appealing to the public;
Speaking at the launch at NSW Parliament House, PIAA Chief Executive Roger Perkins said consumers can now be confident that by buying a dog or puppy from a PIAA member store, they are helping to stamp out dodgy puppy farms.
“Dogs and puppies sold in our stores will only be from PIAA approved breeders who care for their dogs,” Mr Perkins said.
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RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman said: “The RSPCA welcomes this major step toward saving many dogs from being put down.” He added that “the PIAA’s iniaitive in seeking to better control the breeding and sale of puppies is a significant advancement in improving animal welfare.”
Legitimising an industry they should be condemning. Furthering the PIAA’s push for increased influence by growing their membership base and improving the public’s perception of their industry. And finally, and probably most damagingly – giving the PIAA decoration for animal welfare chops that it simply doesn’t deserve.
The RSPCA should be leading the way in industry thinking, and its endorsement should be reserved for the very best animal welfare outcomes. Anyone in animal welfare knows puppy farms and pet shops – no matter how ‘well run’ or frequently audited – can not and do not produce the best outcomes.
Associate Professor Paul McGreevy
Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney
BVSc, PhD, MRCVS, MACVS (Animal Welfare), Cert CABC, Grad Cert Higher Education, RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine“People going past pet shop windows might see this beautiful fluffy puppy and just know that it is beautiful and fluffy, and think that’s all they need to know. They will buy that dog and then begin to start to pick up the pieces because they haven’t looked into the origins of that dog.
“The puppy mills are suppling the pet shops with these animals with very little regard for their physiological or behavioural health. All they need to provide is a beautiful fluffy puppy.”
Karin Bridge
President, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia“Puppies should never be raised as ‘livestock’. Their role is that of a companion animal for people and they are able to fulfill that role best when they are born into a family home and raised amongst the noise and chaos of the human family. Puppy mills and pet shop windows cannot replicate a home environment.
“Puppies who fail to receive adequate early exposure and socialisation are sometimes never able to cope with modern, urban living. Training can then become a constant uphill battle. Typical problems resulting from a lack of early socialisation include shyness, sound sensitivity and fear aggression. For ex-breeding stock who may have spent years in an impoverished environment the problems may be so severe as to make life as a normal family pet impossible.”
Just as the ASPCA taking over animal pounds set the organisation up for failure, the RSPCA taking on the role as champion for profit motivated breeding and sales, also guarantees failure. With this stamp of approval, large scale commercial breeding of companion animals will continue unabated and the animals will continue to suffer at the hands of puppy farmers.
Well said Saving pets, its all jobs for the boys I guess. When are we going to wake up and really demand some pro active action on companion animals.
With these “vested” interest orgs on the current NSW “task” ( less ) force, its another wasted year not to mention many thousands of unwanted cats and dogs killed while “rescue” groups scramble to save as many as they can on a shoe string budget and with no voice.
How can any PUPPY FARM be deemed RSPCA APPROVED have they all lost their minds. Has Dr Harry been to these places how can the Bitch teach the puppies normal behaviour when she has no understanding of anything but a 6×6 (if shes lucky) pen that she hardley ever leaves how can they create companion dogs. This is sick & wrong in so many ways.
Are we living in 2012? becease going backward like this makes me feel like we have learned nothing all theses years.
Come on people we all know this is wrong on so many levels
OSCARS LAW!!!!!!!!!!!
I work at the RSPCA animal shelter in South Australia. We have to deal with the products of puppy farming , had to look after animals that have been imprisoned for breeding purposes their whole lives and believe me, none of the staff at our shelter are pro puppy farms. We also frown apon pet stores selling puppies et al as these come from the puppy farms and ultimately end up at our shelter. To say the RSPCA supports puppy farms is a broad sweeping statement. We need to make a profit (the subsidy we get from the state government here doesn’t even come close to paying our feed bill) but ultimately the staff are here for the animals first !
@Greg – it’s not a “broad, sweeping statement” to highlight that the PIAA is presently courting, and borrowing the goodwill of, the RSPCA. It is a fact.
If I were you, I’d be contacting RSPCA Corporate and letting them know that you are appalled at the PIAA lending the RSPCA brand to further their cause of both protecting puppy farmers and legitimising pet shop sales.
I’d be asking that they either stand up and condemn the RSPCA NSW’s actions, or that they come forward in making this an across the board program, so that you, like the rest of the pet-loving community can give you their feedback.