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if you don't have time to compose a detailed letter, please use this sample.
To find out who your local MP is, go to: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au
To find out which electorate you are in, go to: http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au
Spread the word to friends and family that we must protect the lives and well-being of dogs, cats and other mammals.
Why not sent this to yourself and then forward it on to everybody in your Email address book!
Please, take just a few short minutes to view some of the available footage relating to the pet shop industry and puppy breeding mills and many other unscrupulous breeding practices.
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The following information relates to a Bill put before the New South Wales Parliament. It aims to dramatically reduce the 60,000+ homeless cats and dogs put to death each year in that state alone. It sets an evolved example that we wholeheartedly hope other Australian states and New Zealand will follow.
“Pets Are Not A Consumer Item”
On 18 October 2007, Independent NSW Member of Parliament, Ms Clover Moore, introduced the Animals (Regulation of Sale) Bill into the state’s Legislative Assembly.
For your background information, here’s a copy of Ms Moore’s Media Release announcing the Bill:
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Stopping Animal Cruelty
Friday, 19 October 2007
Australia has the highest rate of pet ownership in the world and pets play an important role in our society. In NSW there are about two million companion animals; four out of five Australians have owned a pet at some time; and almost two-thirds of Australian households currently own pets.
Most people don’t realise that more than 60,000 pets are put down each year in NSW — not including animals dumped in national parks that die of starvation or are killed by other animals.
The average life of a dog is only two years; and a single undesexed cat can produce 420,000 offspring in seven years—risking significant harm to the natural ecosystem.
Many pets are abandoned because they were bought on impulse as cute puppies and kittens displayed in shops, but had unanticipated costs, time, effort and responsibilities. Impulse buying is fine for clothes or shoes, but living animals need on-going care and attention.
The display of pets in shops promotes impulse buying, creating demand often met by unscrupulous breeders who continue to produce more animals despite an oversupply—particularly in “puppy farms” where animals are kept in appalling conditions to reduce costs and maximise profits.
With the support of animal welfare groups including the RSPCA, I introduced legislation this week to protect the lives and well-being of dogs, cats and other mammals by promoting responsible purchase of pets and prohibiting their sale in pet shops, and at fairs and markets.
Under my Animals (Regulation of Sale) Bill, people will be able to buy animals from registered breeders, animal pounds and shelters or their local vet. Prospective owners will be matched with an animal and provided with detailed written information about its special needs and requirements.
Pet shops will still sell food and accessories and other animals such as birds and fish, and also act as agents for animal shelters. These changes will reduce cruel and intense breeding practices to meet demand created by impulse buying, and enable more responsible pet ownership.
My Bill is supported by the RSPCA, Animal Liberation, Young Lawyers Animal Rights Committee, Say No to Animals in Pet Shops, World League for the Protection of Animals, the Cat Protection Society, the Humane Society International, Doggie Rescue, Dogs NSW and the American Staffordshire Club of NSW. I have received many calls and emails of support from people across Australia. The Bill is yet to be debated in Parliament.
More Information
Speech: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.ns...
Bill: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/nswbills.n...
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We at Operation Toby are delighted at the initiative and compassion of this particular politician. We want not only to see the Bill be passed into law, but also to see it set a fantastic precedent for other states of Australia, and even other countries, to follow.
Pet shops and backyard breeders are fuelling an increasing “consumer item” mentality towards pets. This uneducated, impulse purchasing of kittens and puppies is one of the major factors contributing to the annual destruction of well over 60,000 unwanted dogs, cats, puppies and kittens in New South Wales alone.
That’s the equivalent of the entire human population of Coffs Harbour. And it’s happening every single year.
If it is passed into law, Ms Moore’s Bill will have a dual positive impact:
Firstly, it will put a stop to puppy breeding mills and many other unscrupulous breeding practices.
Secondly, it will see those animals who still end up in pounds – usually through no fault of their own – given a far greater chance of finding a home.
We know, if you’re an animal lover, that you probably subscribe to a number of organisations’ updates and you probably receive regular requests to sign petitions or loan your support to many important animal welfare initiatives.
But this initiative – the ANIMALS (REGULATION OF SALE) BILL 2007 – has the power to slash the annual “unwanted pet” death toll IMMEDIATELY it is introduced.
Please, take just a few short minutes to make the most powerful impact you can make in the fight to cut the alarming numbers of animals being put to death in shelters and pounds.
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