Post by greyflyte on Jun 14, 2010 20:39:16 GMT 1
Code of Welfare for Dogs issued10 June 2010
All dog owners will be interested in the minimum standards of care and
recommended best practices outlined in the Animal Welfare (Dogs) Code of Welfare
2010 issued today by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC).
The code applies to anyone responsible for dogs, including those that have them
as pets, show dogs, working dogs or those used for breeding or sport. It offers
practical information and 21 minimum standards relating to all aspects of dog
ownership and care, including water, food and body condition, containment and
shelter, breeding and inherited disorders, behaviour, training, tail docking,
transportation and euthanasia.
Under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 it is the legal responsibility of all animal
owners to ensure that the physical, health and behavioural needs of their dog(s)
are met and that they receive high standards of care.
"The code is intended to encourage all those responsible for the welfare of dogs
to exceed minimum standards and adopt best practices of husbandry, care and
handling," says Dr John Hellström, Chairman of NAWAC.
"It sets standards in regards to inherited disorders in dogs. These standards
are for anyone breeding dogs and selling puppies, not just dog breeders. They
are intended to support initiatives from other organisations, like the New
Zealand Kennel Club's Accredited Breeder Scheme."
The code also allows for tail banding of puppies less than four days old by
appropriate people acting under a quality assurance scheme. "The New Zealand
Kennel Club already has a scheme for accrediting tail banders, but there is
nothing stopping another organisation setting up their own" says Dr Hellström.
NAWAC felt that it was unable to ban tail docking under the Animal Welfare Act
without more information on the effects of current good practice. Instead it
placed tight restrictions on the practice and will look at the issue again when
the code is reviewed.
The Code of Welfare for Dogs was issued by the Minister of Agriculture on the
recommendation of NAWAC - an independent Ministerial advisory committee. The
code was drafted by a group convened by the New Zealand Companion Animal Council
(NZCAC) and reviewed by representatives of animal welfare organisations,
breeders, farmer representatives, local councils, veterinarians and members of
the public.
Copies of the code and the explanatory report that accompanies it are available
online at www.biosecurity.govt.nz/animal-welfare
All dog owners will be interested in the minimum standards of care and
recommended best practices outlined in the Animal Welfare (Dogs) Code of Welfare
2010 issued today by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC).
The code applies to anyone responsible for dogs, including those that have them
as pets, show dogs, working dogs or those used for breeding or sport. It offers
practical information and 21 minimum standards relating to all aspects of dog
ownership and care, including water, food and body condition, containment and
shelter, breeding and inherited disorders, behaviour, training, tail docking,
transportation and euthanasia.
Under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 it is the legal responsibility of all animal
owners to ensure that the physical, health and behavioural needs of their dog(s)
are met and that they receive high standards of care.
"The code is intended to encourage all those responsible for the welfare of dogs
to exceed minimum standards and adopt best practices of husbandry, care and
handling," says Dr John Hellström, Chairman of NAWAC.
"It sets standards in regards to inherited disorders in dogs. These standards
are for anyone breeding dogs and selling puppies, not just dog breeders. They
are intended to support initiatives from other organisations, like the New
Zealand Kennel Club's Accredited Breeder Scheme."
The code also allows for tail banding of puppies less than four days old by
appropriate people acting under a quality assurance scheme. "The New Zealand
Kennel Club already has a scheme for accrediting tail banders, but there is
nothing stopping another organisation setting up their own" says Dr Hellström.
NAWAC felt that it was unable to ban tail docking under the Animal Welfare Act
without more information on the effects of current good practice. Instead it
placed tight restrictions on the practice and will look at the issue again when
the code is reviewed.
The Code of Welfare for Dogs was issued by the Minister of Agriculture on the
recommendation of NAWAC - an independent Ministerial advisory committee. The
code was drafted by a group convened by the New Zealand Companion Animal Council
(NZCAC) and reviewed by representatives of animal welfare organisations,
breeders, farmer representatives, local councils, veterinarians and members of
the public.
Copies of the code and the explanatory report that accompanies it are available
online at www.biosecurity.govt.nz/animal-welfare