Companion Animals

• Pet Shops
• Tail Docking of Dogs
• Pet Ownership
• Choosing a Pet
  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • Rabbits
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Mice and Rats
  • Reptiles
  • Horses
  • Birds
  • Fish
• Native Animals as Pets

• Export and Import of Companion Animals

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(Photo: Courtesy M Walter)

Pet Shops

The South Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Management of Animals in the Pet Trade (350Kb PDF) sets standards for persons who operate or work in the companion animal industry. It describes the welfare requirements of those animals normally sold through wholesale or retail trade, and includes dogs, cats, goats, guinea pigs, rats, mice, birds and reptiles and general provisions relating to any other companion animal. This Code of Practice is regulated in South Australia.

Tail Docking of Dogs

Non-therapeutic dog tail docking became prohibited in South Australia on 1 February 2004 in concert with all Australian jurisdictions through the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC). In South Australia it is illegal for any person to dock the tail off a dog for non-therapeutic purposes.

If, in future, a breed club can produce evidence on a scientific basis that it is in their breed's welfare interest to be docked, they can contact the Animal Welfare Unit for the criteria which must be considered for an independent assessment of that claim.

Pet Ownership

Pet ownership is an everyday part of the Australian lifestyle. Over 66% of today's Australian households have a pet. Typically the major carer of the pet is female, married with children, living in the suburbs and most likely employed. The most popular species of pets include dogs, cats, reptiles, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats, horses, birds and fish.

Choosing a Pet

Selecting the right pet for you is fun, but takes time, planning and lots of research. You need to consider very carefully both your needs and the needs of any animal that comes into your life; for example, how much time you can spend for exercise, how much space you have and how much you can afford to pay for food, toys and possible vet bills.

Dogs

(Photo: Courtesy A Steel)

Dogs are popular family pets and are often treated like a member of the family. They are great companions for a walk in the park and offer unconditional loyalty and affection. Studies have shown that children who grow up with pets display improved self-esteem. Children develop a sense of responsibility, learn to care for their pet and can establish a daily exercise routine - for the benefit of both the dog and the child. In South Australia all dogs over three months of age must be registered with the local council.

However, inappropriate breeding, poor training and/or an unhealthy environment may result in behavioural or physical abnormalities and insufficient socialisation with people and other dogs. A lack of obedience training can lead to unmanageable and/or dangerous dogs. The lack of appropriate stimulation and/or human contact often leads to boredom and nuisance barking or escaping (wandering at large), both of which are offences under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 and may lead to expiation or prosecution. Appropriate levels of physical exercise must be provided otherwise health and behavioural problems may exist, leading to abandonment. Abandoned dogs may be taken to shelters to be re-homed by the RSPCA or Animal Welfare League (or euthanased if an appropriate new home cannot be located). More information on responsible dog and cat management.

Visit the Good Dog SA website.

Cats

(Photo:Courtesy DAFF)

Cats are much loved members of some 1.9 million Australian households. They provide great company, affection, family fun and entertainment, while adding warmth, comfort and character to a home. Cats are clean, economical and easy to maintain. They make great pets for people with busy lifestyles. They can also make great pets for older people or bedridden patients, because some cats like to be cuddled. Cats are happy to live indoors where they are safe from car accidents and attacks from other animals or people. Indoor cats need to be provided cat litter trays and adequate environmental stimulation such as a cat gym and cat toy.

Stray and feral cat population growth and the numbers of nuisance cats may be caused by negligence in care and/or lack of responsibility taken by some owners. If cats are not desexed their health and welfare can be compromised by disease and behaviour problems. Roaming cats at night can result in cat fights and injuries, traffic problems and accidents and increased risk of disease. Entire (non-desexed) homeless male cats have a lifespan of approximately 18 months whereas a desexed cat living in a caring home can live well into teenage years. Local Councils in South Australia are able to make bylaws to manage cats in their area if the local community is supportive of this.

• Cats are known to prey on more than 186 kinds of native Australian bird, 64 mammals, 87 reptiles, 10 species of amphibian, and numerous invertebrates.
• In Australia, cats are a threat to the survival of at least 58 native species that are listed as being at risk of extinction.
• A domestic cat can kill 16 mammals, 8 birds and 8 reptiles a year [on average] according to an Australia-wide survey.
• Research shows that putting bells on cat collars does not prevent them killing wildlife.
• Cats are the host of a blood disease Toxoplasmosis which can affect wildlife.

More information on responsible dog and cat management.

Rabbits

While most pet rabbits sold are intended for children, not all have temperaments suited to being patted, cuddled, picked up or carried around. Never leave young children unsupervised with any rabbit. Many longtime rabbit owners say as a guide, the larger the rabbit the more docile its personality. Lops, those rabbits with floppy ears, are quite docile and can be a good choice for children. Most rabbits in Australia are kept outdoors in movable hutches made of timber or metal. These should be enclosed with mesh, and preferably with an insect screen to prevent mosquitoes spreading disease (notably myxomatosis and calici virus). One end of the hutch needs to be enclosed to provide shelter for the rabbit and a hinged lid will help when cleaning the hutch each week. Inappropriate, immovable hutches made of inappropriate materials, incorrect diet or poor handling techniques can cause stress to rabbits.

Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs are one of the most popular pet rodents. They are generally hardy animals, and given the right facilities are easy to care for. Guinea pigs are docile with people and soon become tame. Their size and shape allow them to be easily handled by children. Because they are social animals, it is necessary that more than one pet guinea pig be kept for companionship. Poor ventilation and inappropriate environment (heat, cold, light), inappropriate hutch sizes or poor handling techniques can cause stress to guinea pigs. In summer is it essential that the hutch is in a cool spot and in winter that there is a dry area. The hutch needs to be cleaned regularly.

Mice and Rats

Mice and rats can make excellent 'pocket' pets and are very popular with children but usually only live for about two years. They have been bred in captivity for nearly 100 years and there are now 40 different varieties available. Pet mice are easily handled by children and do not require large or expensive facilities. As with rabbits and guinea pigs, poor ventilation, inappropriate environment (heat, cold, light), inappropriate cage sizes, high stocking densities (restricting freedom of movement) or poor handling techniques can cause stress and may kill mice and rats. The biggest problem with pet mice and rats is that children forget to feed so parental oversight is essential.

Reptiles

(Photo: Courtesy DAFF)

Under National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 all native reptiles are protected and a permit is required to keep most species in captivity. It is illegal to keep exotic (non-Australian) reptiles in captivity. A reptile is a long term commitment. Turtles can live for more than 30 years, pythons for more than 15 years and lizards such as blue-tongues for 20 years.

It is illegal to take reptiles animals from the wild. All lizards, snakes and turtles are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. You can apply for a permit from the Fauna Permits Unit in the Department for Environment and Heritage to keep captive - bred reptiles as pets. Poor ventilation and inappropriate environment (heat, cold, light) together with inappropriate cage size or poor handling techniques can all cause stress and the death of pet reptiles.

Horses

Horses are impressive pets, but they need plenty of space and time and money to look after them. Owning a horse is a huge responsibility. It means hard work and dirty chores for a long time, and it also means considerable expense. It is very important for a prospective horse owner to understand that the initial purchase of a horse is only the first step and many more costs will be involved. Some of the basic necessities needed for a horse include a bridle, saddle, saddle blanket, grooming brush, feed tin and water container. Owners are advised to inquire about the costs of such items first as they can be very expensive. A safe storage area for equipment when it is not in use is also essential. There will also be veterinary fees and farrier fees, not to mention stabling costs and the cost of feed. A lack of knowledge and commitment on the part of owners regarding the particular risks horses face can cause problems. Horse owners should have a good understanding of conditions such as laminitis and colic, the appropriate use of whips, spurs and training methods, as well as appropriate housing and diet and be able to identify stereotype behaviour (crib-biting and wind-sucking). Owners should also be aware of techniques for minimising the horse's stress during transport. If a child wants a horse, suggest that they spend time helping out at a stable or riding school and learning to ride for six months first. If the child is still enthusiastic, consider leasing a horse for a while before purchasing.

Birds

(Photo: Courtesy P Whetnall)

In many ways, birds behave like humans. We see and hear most of our native Australian birds early in the morning or towards the end of the day. This is the time that birds are most active, searching for and eating food, then 'talking' to each other. Their daily activity is very similar to that of people and this explains in part why birds make such good pets. The South Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Management of Animals the Husbandry of Captive Birds (850Kb PDF) is a regulated code of practice in South Australia. It outlines minimum standards for the the care and management of birds including feeding requirements and minimum cage sizes. Poor environment (heat, cold, light), inappropriate cage sizes and lack of stimulating contact with humans and other birds can result in boredom and behavioural problems in birds.

In choosing a bird consider the lifestyle it is going to have. Hand reared birds often do not cope in outside aviaries, but are happier in a cage inside and being taken out of the cage to interact with people. Adult aviary bred or wild sourced birds (eg rescued birds) rarely become tame enough to enjoy being handled by people and are better kept in outside aviaries. The best shoulder pet bird species are those that live in flocks and groom each other in the wild, eg Budgerigars, Corelllas, Cockatiels and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos.

Fish

If fish are housed in rectangular aquariums that are properly made and maintained, they can live for many years. It is wise to buy the fish only when their new home is completely ready for them. If the aquarium is placed on the window sill, cover the glass that faces the outside to shelter the fish from the glare of sunlight. Aquariums should not be put in a position where there is a risk of the tank overheating in the full afternoon sun. Change tank water with rain water as mains water is chlorinated and can be toxic to fish. Fresh water aquarium water should never be replaced entirely, but rainwater can be added at intervals to make up for evaporation. For those without access to rainwater, there are now products available which dechlorinate and condition tap water so that it may be used in aquariums without causing harm to the fish. Alternatively leave fresh water in buckets overnight so the chlorine can bubble off. Marine tanks are difficult and expensive to establish so seek advice prior to purchase. The biggest cause of death and disease in fish is caused by overfeeding and some species of fish are not compatible with others so seek advice prior to purchase.

Native Animals As Pets

It is legal to keep native animals in South Australia if they are lawfully obtained and kept in accordance with permit conditions. The degree of expertise required to keep native animals is as varied as the species themselves and, like any other pet, a person should consider their personal circumstances such as time, money and experience before obtaining any animal.

The Fauna Permits Unit, within the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) administers the fauna permit system for the keeping of native animals in captivity. The permit system provides a framework that identifies legally acquired native animals and allows the detection of those animals that have been illegally acquired and brought into captivity. Native animals incorporate a wide array of fauna, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, marsupials and mammals.

Recently there has been an increase in reports of native animals found within the urban metropolitan area or seen wandering at large: a wombat near Noarlunga, red kangaroos in Belair and Mylor and two pythons and a turtle within the Adelaide metropolitan area. These species are not found in natural populations within these areas and are popular pet native animals.

• Who to contact when a pet native animal is lost or found.

  (Photo: Courtesy DAFF)

  
  Report the matter immediately to the Fauna Permits Unit on telephone (61 8) 8124 4700. The Fauna Permits Unit keeps a spreadsheet of lost and found native species in the hope of repatriating animals to their homes. If the animal is distressed or injured it may also be appropriate to contact a fauna rescue organisation listed in the White Pages.
• What to do with an unwanted pet native animal.
  DO NOT RELEASE IT INTO THE WILD. Releasing animals into the wild is a clear breach of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 and furthermore it poses a risk to the safety of the animal and to people. Hand-raised native animals often die if released into the wild. Releasing a pet into the wild is not only illegal it is cruel. There are options available to people who own native animals as pets and who no longer wish to keep them including obtaining a permit to sell the animal or surrendering the animal to DEH which will try to find a suitable home for it.

More on fauna permits.

Export and Import of Companion Animals

Export

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) facilitates the export of live animals from Australia by confirming their fitness for export purposes and verifying that the requirements of importing countries have been met. This is done through the issuing of export health certification and export permits in a cost effective manner.

Import

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) ensures that animals are only imported into Australia from approved countries. Conditions for importing cats and dogs from approved countries vary depending on the country of export.