E-news Issue 2 - June 2006

Welcome to our second issue!

Most of us who are pet owners know that we are all members of a kind of secret society – we don’t hesitate to say hi when passing each other in the park, stop and chat easily about our respective charges, and refer to each other by our pet’s names (‘Dash’s mum’ or ‘Harley’s dad’).

But it seems this connection can go even further than we thought – as a recent RSPCA surveys indicates many people have actually found the love of their life with a little help from their furry friends!

On a more serious note, this issue also looks at the continuing controversy surrounding the keeping of elephants in captivity and explain why the RSPCA, along with a number of highly respected animal welfare and conservation groups, is opposed to the plan to import more elephants into Australia zoos.

We also talk about at the model code of practice that governs the welfare of farmed pigs. Did you know that some farmers give their pigs footballs to play with, so they are active and don’t become bored? – that’s how smart these animals are.

This code is currently being reviewed and is open for public comment, which provides us with a rare opportunity to make a real difference to lives of these complex and intelligent animals. I absolutely urge you to participate in this review if you can.

With the cold weather setting in, it’s the perfect time to think about the special needs of our pets over winter, especially our senior companions (though, try telling them they’re seniors!). This issue, we investigate what sort of changes you might need to make when they reach that seven year milestone.

Finally, I’m sure our tale of Bonnie and Robyn, and how they came to find each other, will bring a smile to your face and warm your heart!

If you have a story to tell – about how you and your pet found each other (perhaps through the RSPCA?), how they have changed your life, the amazing and entertaining things that animals do – whatever your tale (tail?), please don’t hesitate to drop me a line, we’d love to hear from you!

Until next time,

Jane.

In this issue…

A jumbo problem, and not yet solved

The pulling power of pets

Campaign update: Not as happy as a pig in mud…yet!

Senior pets and the seven-year switch

RSPCA to the Rescue: A Bonnie new home

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A jumbo problem, and not yet solved

Recent events have once again drawn the nation’s attention to the plight of eight elephants currently housed in a Thai quarantine compound awaiting exportation. Thai animal welfare groups, protesting over concerns about the elephant’s future, have succeeded in delaying the transport and are asking the Thai government to hear them out.

While RSPCA Australia doesn’t normally advocate protest action of this nature, we do empathise with the concerns expressed by the Thai welfare groups. These latest delays are just the most recent in a series of problems associated with this importation, and which are the result of poor planning and preparation by the zoos involved.

The RSPCA, along with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Humane Society International, have opposed the plan to import elephants from Thailand into Australian zoos, because we don’t believe elephants should be kept in zoos at all.

Zoos do some good work in education and conservation, but while some animals can thrive in the captive environment, elephants in zoos suffer from a range of health problems, including serious and painful joint disorders as well as obesity and diabetes. Many of these result from lack of movement, as zoos can’t possible provide for the space these large, nomadic animals need.

It’s especially important to remember - because this import plan is touted by the zoos as a conservation effort – that elephants in zoos also breed very poorly, with very high rates of miscarriage, still birth and infant mortality. In fact, despite keeping Asian elephants in captivity for around 100 years, not one single calf has ever been bred in an Australia zoo. Yet the tourist camp these elephants were taken from has had 25 successful births in the last 5 years, with any number of female elephants pregnant right now!

This captive breeding plan aims to try using invasive artificial insemination techniques, in a last ditch attempt to increase the local elephant population. That’s right - there is also no intention to ever release an elephant back into the wild.

An appeal launched by the welfare groups mentioned above succeeded in achieving significant improvements to the elephant enclosures at Taronga and Melbourne Zoos – but despite international condemnation from elephant and conservation experts, the importation looks set to proceed. Zoos describe the new exhibit as a ‘Four Seasons Hotel for elephants’ - but how would you like to spend the rest of your life locked in a hotel room with four other people?

‘A gilded cage’ would be a more accurate description.

Indeed, this latest protest activity confirms there are many in Thailand who are also not happy with these plans for the elephants’ future, and who wish to consult further with their government on the matter.

Like the RSPCA, they believe conservation efforts to protect this endangered species must remain focused on the elephant’s homeland –wealthy overseas zoos paying big dollars to buy more elephants to keep in captivity just puts a price on their head that can only encourage more poaching from the wild.

The RSPCA strongly believes the elephants should be left where they are until all these problems are resolved, and that Australian zoos should consider following the example set by their counterparts overseas.

Zoos in America and Europe are accepting they cannot meet the complex physical social and behavioural needs of these incredible animals and are phasing out the keeping of elephants in zoos altogether.

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The pulling power of pets

In our last issue, we talked about the many health benefits of pet ownership. Now, based on the results of a recent RSPCA NSW survey, it seems our pets can also act as furry little Cupids, helping us find our soul mate and sniffing out love rats to boot!

The survey of more than 2000 pet owners found more than half of those interviewed had met new people as a direct result of their pet while more than one in 20 credited their pet with introducing them to their partner.

And it seems a pet adopted from a shelter like the RSPCA may be the best ‘four legged introduction agency’ of all, with owners of rescued pets rating highly as potential new partners or friends.

The results are further backed up by a national RSPCA online poll, which found almost half of all pet owners surveyed had made a new friend through their pets.

RSPCA NSW veterinarian Simone Maher said the survey confirmed their belief that people find others more appealing and approachable if they are accompanied by a friendly animal.

“Some 84 per cent of people surveyed said they would rate animals either ‘very highly’ or ‘highly’ as conversation starters, while pet owners were significantly more likely to find a prospective partner attractive if they were also a pet owner” she said.

The research also revealed the strong loyalty that Australians feel for their pets.

“If forced to choose, more than a third of those surveyed said they would choose to live with their pet over their current partner,” said Dr Maher.

“An astounding 86.8% said they would choose their pet over their friends or flatmate,” she said.

Almost half (49%) of those surveyed said their pet understands their moods best, while only a third (33%) said that their partner does.

Of course, the RSPCA strongly advises against adopting a pet unless you are seeking companion that you are willing to care for, for the whole of its life. If it’s pulling power you’re after, a walk through the local park or minding a friend’s dog might be just the ticket instead.

But if you already own a pet and are looking for love or friendship, help just might be as close as the end of that leash!

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Not as happy as a pig in mud…yet

The national code of practice that regulates the keeping of pigs is currently under review. Pigs are intelligent and social animals, and the RSPCA has serious concerns about some methods used in their farming. The code review is our chance – and yours – to make a difference to their future.

The Australian Model Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Animals are produced by the Australian Government as a guide for people involved in livestock production, handling and transport. Every now and then, in response to changing community attitudes or advancements in technology and our understanding of animal management, the codes are revised.

The model codes set minimum animal welfare standards as well as providing advice on best practice in the care of livestock animals. There area number of animal welfare issues associated with the farming of pigs, but the RSPCA is most concerned with the housing of breeding sows in farrowing crates or sow stalls.

A sow stall is a metal-barred crate that houses a single sow for all or part of her 16-week pregnancy. A standard sow stall measures just 2 metres long and 60 cm wide – this is barely enough space for a full-grown sow to fit in. The sow cannot turn around or move freely – she can usually only take a single step forward or back.

Sow stalls were originally introduced to allow for housing of more sows in a smaller area (high stocking density), and to reduce the need for supervision to prevent possible bullying, aggression or competition for food. However, these savings come at a great cost to the welfare of the animal – pigs are very social animals, and preventing them form interacting with other pigs naturally results in frustration. Also, because movement is severely restricted in sow stalls, the lack of exercise often leads to reduce muscle and bone strength and difficulty in standing up or lying down.

There are alternatives. Animal welfare groups argue that pregnant sows can be held successfully in groups provided that they are properly managed, have sufficient space and the ability to avoid aggressive encounters, such as through the use of get-away areas or partitions.

In intensive systems, a sow will be moved into a farrowing crate a few days before giving birth. A farrowing crate is similar to a sow stall, except it is slightly narrower and has an area around it where the piglets can move away from the sow. The sow is confined in the crate from 1-2 weeks before giving birth until the piglets are weaned, usually at 3-4 weeks of age.

Farrowing crates have been designed to maximise the survival of piglets, but this again is at a cost to the welfare of the sow. Farrowing crates do not provide nesting or bedding material for the pregnant sow, which results in stress and frustration for her. RSPCA Australia strongly believes that housing systems for farrowing sows must be designed to safeguard the welfare of both the piglets and the sow and farrowing pens may allow for a suitable compromise. There are a number of experimental designs that have adapted the traditional farrowing crate to provide bedding and more flexibility and movement for the sow, while maintaining a high level of protection for the piglets. There are also extensive systems in use where farrowing takes place in individual huts with bedding, where the sow is free to move around and go in and out of the hut.

Some farms singly house the sows for the first 6-10 weeks and then group-house until the young are born.

However, around a quarter of farms keep their sows in stalls from conception until the litter of piglets is born – up to 16 weeks in total. Usually, the piglets are weaned at 3-4 weeks and then the sow is made pregnant again. From the age of 8-10 months the sow is generally either pregnant or lactating (with her litter). On average a breeding sow would have 8 litters over a 4-year period.

This means she may be in a stall or farrowing crate for all her adult life.

How you can help: The RSPCA urges you to take part in the review to make sure animal welfare is considered as a priority. To make the process easier, RSPCA Australia has set up a page on its national website that provides clear and simple advice on how to submit comments on the code – just click here.

But hurry - the draft MCOP for pigs is only open for public consultation until 31 July 2006.

If you’d like more information or advice, please feel free to contact RSPCA Australia on (02) 6282 8300 or e-mail rspca@rspca.org.au.

Read more about the code review here and sign our Fair Go for Farm Animals petition here.

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Senior pets and the seven year switch.

While many beloved pets remain ‘young at heart’ til the very end, when your cat or dog reaches the age of seven years is usually a good time to ‘make the switch’ and start thinking about what special needs it might have as it gets older.

My Buk (pronounced ‘book’), pictured here, is a rescued ex-racing greyhound who came to me at the ripe old age of eight years. Like most people, I enjoyed the idea of owning a cute little puppy but I’m now constantly amazed at how intelligent and adaptable Buk is, and how well he has fit into my routine.

Owning an older pet actually has a number of big advantages. For example, if you adopt an older dog like I have, you usually don’t need to worry about common ‘puppy problems’ such as chewing and housetraining. Plus many older dogs already have basic training and tend to be calmer and settle in more easily. What you see is usually what you get with an older pet, and they have a good idea of what’s expected of them.

That aside, younger and older pets do share some similarities. Like younger pets, older animals can be more susceptible to illness and infection and you should watch closely for any symptoms. They also tend to suffer more in extremes of cold and heat so be sure they have plenty of cool water, shade and ventilation in summer, as well as a warm environment and comfortable bedding in winter.

Incidentally, it’s commonly suggested that dogs age seven years for every one ‘human’ year, but this isn’t entirely accurate. Dogs age at different rates depending on their size – generally, larger dogs age faster than small dogs. Overall, the average lifespan of our pets has increased over the last few decades and it’s not uncommon for dogs to live for 12-15 years and cats even longer - up to 20 years in some cases!

It somewhat of a myth that owning an older pet means you may be up for a fortune in medical bills – remember, accidents can happen at any age and while older dogs do have some special requirements, veterinary treatment is required at all ages (puppies and kittens needs vaccination, desexing and so forth). If you’re concerned about the impact of vet bills, planning for the future can help and you may wish to consider pet insurance while your pet is still young.

Proper nutrition is one of the easiest but most important ways we can assist our pets stay healthy and active long into their twilight years. Not surprisingly, older dogs and cats have different nutritional needs to puppies and kittens. These might include antioxidants for a strong immune system, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and lower salt and phosphorous levels to maintain good kidneys function.

The best way to make sure your pet is getting all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients it needs is by using a good quality pet commercial food designed for pets aged 7+ years. For example, Hill’s Science Diet Canine and Feline Mature Adult 7+ are specially formulated with the best available ingredients and contain higher levels of such goodies as vitamin E, C, Selenium and beta carotene, which help protect against the risk of disease and delay the signs of aging. Veterinarians and the RSPCA recommend Hill’s Science Diet – RSPCA shelters across Australia feed Hill’s to all our animals awaiting adoption, so they have a great start to their new life.

Of course, exercise and activity go hand in hand with good nutrition and are vital to enhance mobility and control weight (excess weight can lead to a whole host of other problems, especially in older animals). While your pet may slow down a little in its later years, regular exercise and gentle playtime are still essential and will be thoroughly enjoyed by your pet.

Developing and maintaining a good relationship with your vet is important: most recommend general check ups at least once a year. Your vet will also want to keep an eye on your pet’s dental health, as teeth may deteriorate with age and proper cleaning can help. If you suspect your pet is affected by common seniors’ problems like diabetes or osteoarthritis, or if you’d just like some advice, don’t hesitate to speak to your vet – there are a number of treatments available now that can ensure your older pet’s quality of life is maintained for many years to come.

• If you have any further questions about caring for an older pet, or would like to suggest a topic for a future pet care article, please contact us at the RSPCA.

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A Bonnie new home

Bonnie is a very special adoption case, and her story is a testament to the power of the internet and the value of technology in helping organisations like the RSPCA find homes for more animals in need.

Bonnie is a gorgeous 15 month old Jack Russell terrier cross dog who, like most the 135,000 animals accepted from the community each year, came to the RSPCA through no fault of her own.

As she patiently waited for a new home, Bonnie endeared herself to staff at the RSPCA South Australia shelter at Lonsdale, where she was described as a sweet and friendly girl with beautiful manners. Little did they realise Bonnie’s perfect family had just begun their search for her – several thousand kilometres away in sunny Brisbane!

After getting to know her son’s dog, a Jack Russell Terrier called Scout, Robyn knew she wanted a similar breed but also needed to be sure her new dog would get along with her three elderly cats.

Browsing through the RSPCA’s new pet adoption website, Adoptapet, Robyn was quite taken with Bonnie’s ‘gorgeous face’ in her photo and when she read that Bonnie was also described as getting along well with cats, she knew she had found the dog for her.

This feeling was confirmed when Robyn rang the South Australian shelter, where Bonnie was staying, and spoke to staff at length about the type of dog Bonnie was and what sort of home she would be suited to.

It was then Robyn made the brave and exciting decision to book a seat and fly more then two and a half hours to Adelaide to meet her!

Robyn’s instincts and careful research proved to be spot on, and after spending the day together Bonnie flew home with her that afternoon.

Now Bonnie’s tale has a much-deserved happy ending and she is well and truly part of the family.

“She has my husband – who is usually more of a cat person – wrapped around her paw!”, said Robyn.

“She has so much fun when she plays with her toys and she has us laughing when she runs around in circles then just looks at us as if to say, aren’t I clever!”

Bonnie is enjoying her new lifestyle in warm Queensland and counts walks to the dog park and playing with Scout amongst her favourite activities.

“She just loves to be with people and at night, enjoys cuddling up on the lounge chair while we watch TV,” said Robyn.

And when asked if she would do it all again, Robyn’s answer is a resounding yes!

The RSPCA’s Adoptapet website receives around 30,000 visits every month and has helped the RSPCA to rehome more than 5,500 animals in need since its launch in October 2005. If you’re looking for a new pet, visit Adoptapet where you’ll also find heaps of useful information about choosing and caring for your new pet as well as the benefits of pet ownership.

Adoptapet is made possible through the support of users of the Bendigo RSPCA Rescue VISA, the credit card that lets you save lives every time you spend. Click here for details.

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