Animals in Work, Sport, Recreation or on DisplayService AnimalsPolice Dog Operations Unit
The Police Dog Operations Unit provides support to operational police through the deployment of teams comprising a trained dog and handler. These teams are able to respond to calls for assistance throughout the State and carry out duties involving tracking, searching, criminal apprehension, drug and explosive detection, search and rescue. Each team has its own personal transport being a station wagon police vehicle with a separate and secure cage in the rear for transporting the dog. Dogs are able to distinguish between many odours which may seem identical to human beings. This, combined with the dog's acute hearing ability and vision is what the police dog handler depends on for the dog to perform its work. More information on the South Australian Dog Operations Unit. Police Mounted Operations UnitImposing as they are, the non-aggressive presence of the Police Mounted Operations Unit enables officers to safely and quickly defuse violent or antisocial situations, quite often without the hostility usually directed at other officers in similar circumstances. The mere presence of a police horse attracts immediate attention and provides an excellent medium for policy and public interaction, particularly with those who would normally avoid police contact. The role of the Police Mounted Operations Unit extends from the Christmas Pageant right through to riot control. The SA Police traditionally use grey horses, the light grey tones making the horse highly visible. More information on the South Australia Mounted Police. Australian Customs and Australian Quarantine Detector dogsThe Australian Customs Service and Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) detector dog teams both play a vital role in helping to protect Australia from prohibited imports. The dogs are trained to sniff out items of concern. AQIS uses beagles to search for food, plants and reptiles. Australian Customs uses specially bred Labradors which search for drugs, firearms and explosives. Dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell - said to be at least 100 times more acute than our own and can be trained to simply sit when they detect a target odour, and await their reward from their handler - the kind of passive response is also regarded as acceptable around passengers at airports. More
information about Australian Customs Service Detector Dogs Correctional ServicesDogs are used by Correctional Services in detecting criminal activity among prisoners, particularly the use of illicit drugs. The dogs may also be used to check visitors who could bring drugs into the prison. They are also trained to detect syringes, alcoholic substances, homemade weapons and pills of all descriptions. The dogs may also be used during the escort of prisoners of concern and could be involved preventing escapes and the search and recovery of prisoners. People often wonder if dogs are attracted to the hidden drugs because they want to eat them, or because they are addicted to them. In fact, the dogs have no interest in drugs at all. What they're actually looking for is a favourite toy. During training, the dog handler encourages the dog to play with a toy which has been carefully washed so that it has no scent of its own. Later, a target odour is placed inside the toy. After a while, the dog starts to associate the odour with the toy. The handler then hides the toy in various places and the dog tries to find. Different target odours can be placed inside the toy until the dog associates it with many different smells. The same method is used for bomb-detection dogs, with the chemicals used in the manufacture of explosives placed inside the toy. More information on the Department for Correctional Services. Emergency ServicesSearch and rescue dogs assist in locating missing persons. Search and rescue teams consist of experienced dog handlers who volunteer considerable time in training their dogs in a diverse range of emergency situations and terrain such as wilderness and open country, urban search, distance air scenting, and rubble search (collapsed buildings, landslides). Some dogs are also trained for cadaver search, to assist the Police in locating human bodies. More information on the South Australian State Emergency Service. Guard and Patrol DogsUnder the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 a guard dog is a dog that is kept on premises primarily for the purpose of guarding or protecting a person or property at those premises. A patrol dog is a dog that, under the control of a person, patrols premises for the purpose of guarding or protecting a person or property at those premises. Premises includes: Disability DogsGuide DogsGuide Dogs assist people who are blind or vision impaired to travel around safely and independently. Whilst most people who are blind or vision impaired don't need a Guide Dog, for those who do, the dog becomes their 'eyes'. A Guide Dog is trained to move freely along a path of travel to avoid bumping into things, avoid overhead obstacles such as low branches, safely negotiate road crossings and obey a wide range of commands. Guide Dogs are most commonly Labradors and Golden Retrievers, and are legally entitled to travel anywhere, including public transport, taxis and all public places with the person they are assisting. More information on Guide Dogs. Assistance Dogs
Assstaince dogs assist people with disabilities and give them more confidence and help them achieve a greater level of independence. Training includes opening and closing doors, turning light switches on and off, pressing pedestrian crossing buttons, retrieving and picking up items from the floor - tasks that are difficult for people confined to a wheelchair. The dogs can also pull the wheelchair and bark for assistance, if required. More information on Assistance Dogs. Hearing DogsHearing Dogs are working dogs which also become treasured friends. For people with a severe hearing loss, a Hearing Dog can let its owner know when the doorbell rings, the smoke alarm sounds, when kettle boils, and generally compensate for the difficulty of not hearing all the usual sounds in the house and elsewhere. They are usually small to medium size dogs suitable for the house. More information on Hearing Dogs. Herding DogsAustralian farmers need a special breed of dog to work sheep and cattle on sometimes vast outback properties, under harsh conditions. Working dog breeds from Europe were considered too heavily coated and unsuitable in the heat. Five Australian working dog breeds have been developed the Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Kelpie, Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog , Australian Terrier and Australian Silky Terrier. All of these breeds are capable of tirelessly working in blistering heat, freezing cold and over great distances for days on end, a good working dog is said to be worth many men, particularly in mountain conditions or over vast areas. 
RacingHorse Racing
Horse Racing dates back to when nomadic tribesmen began to race domesticated horses in central Asia, northern Africa, and eastern Europe . Breeding to improve speed, stamina, and strength began in ancient Greece. Today horse racing is popular throughout the world and people have come to love and respect the horse's beauty, speed, power, stamina, and grace.
The Thoroughbred horse can reach speeds around 70 km per hour, whereas a Standard bred can trot or pace around 55 km per hour. Both the Thoroughbred and Standard bred breeds have bloodlines that can be traced to their original sires and dams (fathers and mothers). More information on Horse Racing. Dog RacingDog racing was a favourite of the Egyptian Pharaohs who adored the speed, stamina, grace and loyalty of the dogs. The sport of racing dogs migrated with the great camel trains and traders to other lands such as Russia, Greece and Rome, and it reached the far outposts of the vast Roman Empire, including Britain. The first greyhound to arrive in Australia stepped ashore alongside Captain Cook and Sir Joseph Banks at Botany Bay in 1770. Modern greyhound racing still retains all the traits that made it so popular throughout the centuries although the sport of chasing on a race track is a very recent development with the invention of the mechanical lure in 1912. In Australia, mechanical lure racing commenced in 1927 at Epping in New South Wales. More information on Dog Racing. Pigeon RacingThe racing pigeon is the fastest racing animal and the sport is enjoyed by more than two million fanciers throughout the world. In Australia, many thousands of fanciers compete in races of distances ranging from 50 to 1,200 km. Homing pigeon racing was first developed in Belgium between 1790 and 1870. Homing pigeons were used by the allies in both world wars to carry urgent messages and information. In South Australia approximately 25 races are held each year in the winter and spring months with distances ranging from 200 km to 1,320 km. More information on Pigeon Racing. Zoos and Wildlife Parks
Human interest in keeping animals dates back thousands of years to ancient Egypt. Many zoos were also created by rulers of ancient Africa, India and China to demonstrate their wealth and power. The ancient Greeks established zoos to study animal behaviour. British and European exploration of the world in the 18th and 19th centuries led to the 'discovery' of many species that they considered to be unusual. This encouraged the keeping of animals as exotica in Europe and Britain. Modern zoos and wildlife parks undertake vital education and conservation of endangered species in Australia and throughout the world as well as providing recreation for tourists and residents. The Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA) is the leading zoo and aquarium organisation in the Australasian region. ARAZPA's membership includes the major zoos and aquariums in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific Islands. ARAZPA is working towards developing zoos and aquariums as centres of excellence in conservation and research. The ARAZPA mission statement is: "To harness the collective resources of zoos and aquariums to help conserve biodiversity in the natural environment". Recently ARAZPA has developed standards for the keeping and displaying of most species which all member zoos, wildlife parts and aquaria must meet. Circuses
The history of circuses can be traced from the days of ancient Rome, complete with performances by lions and camels, to the modern day circuses. Circuses remain one of the most enduring forms of family entertainment in the world. Whilst dancing elephants and whip-cracking lion tamers of the traditional circus still exist, many modern day circuses focus on human feats of daring, juggling and tumbling and feature animals and their trainers working as a cooperative team. Traditionally circus encompasses horsemanship, exotic animals, human athleticism (juggling, tumbling etc) and clowns. The South Australian Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals in Circuses (950Kb PDF) is regulated in South Australia for those circuses that incorporate animals in their performances. The Code of Practice is endorsed by the Department for Environment and Heritage, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and the Australian Circus Federation of Australia Inc as a regulated Code of Practice under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1995. The South Australian Code of Practice is based on national standards which are also regulated under the New South Wales Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986. All Australian and visiting international circuses must abide by these standards. RodeosThe history of rodeo in Australia can be traced back to the 1800s to the early horsebreakers, cattlemen and drovers as they showed off their skills in informal competitions. Rodeo evolved from these informal competitions to the competitive arena. The first recorded 'open to all' rodeo in Australia was held in Gaynda (Queensland) in 1887 although there were regular 'buckjumping' contests as part of outback shows well before then. By the early 1900s buckjumping exhibitions and competitions were a regular feature, not only in the outback but in the major cities. On 4 July 2007, the Minister for Environment and Conservation announced the Government's intention to improve the regulation of rodeos and the welfare of animals used in these events. On 1 September 2007 amendments made to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2000 became law. Mandatory provisions within the amended Regulations include:
The measures announced will ensure that rodeo organisers and participants will have a clear set of requirements and that inspectors under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1985 will have enforceable provisions in the event that those requirements are not met. It is recognised that some people consider that these measures do not go far enough and others consider them to be excessive. The measures are intended to recognise the valid concerns of both sides of the debate. The intention is not to ban rodeos, but to improve the welfare of all animals taking part in these events. There is an expectation that animals will be treated in a humane manner, that the law will be enforceable and that events, which are important to the economic and social structure of rural towns, will be preserved. This initiative strives to achieve all of those aims. Apply for a Permit to Conduct a Rodeo. HuntingIn South Australia the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 provides the legislative framework for the conservation of wildlife in the natural environment. The Act and Regulations provide a framework to monitor, prevent and control the illegal exploitation of protected wildlife and regulate activities with legal recreational hunting. Permits for hunting are administered by the Fauna Permit Unit in the Department for Environment and Heritage.
Most native mammals, reptiles and birds are fully protected. Without this protection many species may ultimately disappear forever. Some species of native animals maintain high population levels. Some of these have been traditionally hunted for food and sport. The NPW Act 1972 provides for the proclamation of open seasons under certain conditions to permit the hunting of certain species of protected game (ducks and quail). A few species of native animals and all species of introduced animals are unprotected in terms of the Act: Zebra Finch Poephila guttata; Budgerygah Melopsittacus undulatus; Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata; Grey-backed Silvereye Zosterops lateralis halmaturina; Galah Cacatua roseicapilla; Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea; Australian Raven Corvus coronoides; Little Crow Corvus bennetti; Australian Crow Corvus orru cecilae; Little Raven Corvus mellori; Wild Dog (Dingo) Canis familiaris. However a hunting permit is required before it is permissible to hunt such animals. Hunting of feral animals requires a hunting permit and permission of the landholder. Hunting in South Australia means: to take any animals which has not been domesticated or brought into captivity, including catching, restraining, killing or injuring. Any person wanting to hunt in South Australia requires a hunting permit unless they are:
With a basic hunting permit a person may hunt feral animals, such as rabbits, foxes, goats and pigs. This permit does not allow the taking of protected species such as kangaroos; nor does it allow domestic stock to be taken. Protected game (ducks and quail) may be hunted if an open season is proclaimed. The hunting season proclamation sets the dates and times of the hunting season and identify the game species approved for hunting and the bag limit for each species. Open seasons for ducks and quail are proclaimed on the basis of climatic conditions and biological criteria relating to duck and quail populations. To hunt ducks in South Australia an open season permit is required. To obtain this permit a person must successfully pass the Waterfowl Identification Test (WIT). The open season permit (class 2, 4 or 6) allows hunting of duck and quail as well as animals approved on the basic hunting permit (eg feral rabbits, foxes, goats and pigs). An open season quail permit (class 8, 9 or 10) allows hunting of quail as well as animals approved on the basic hunting permit. The hunting of ducks and quail on any open season permit is subject to hunting season proclamations. The hunting of other species (those approved on the basic hunting permit) can occur throughout the year. Duck Hunting SeasonBefore allowing a duck hunting season, assessments of waterfowl abundance, wetland condition and the possible effects of hunting on waterfowl numbers are conducted. This information is used to determine whether or not hunting may occur, which species may be hunted and where duck hunting can take place. For example, in 1983, 1985 and 2003 there was no hunting of waterfowl in South Australia due to drought conditions and low wetland levels in the South East of South Australia. The Government acknowledges the responsible and humane hunting practices promoted and adopted by hunting organisations. In recent years, there have been a number of stringent conditions placed on all duck hunters, including Waterfowl Identification Tests, the compulsory use of non-toxic shot and changes to firearms legislation. All hunters with a current hunting permit are accredited under this system. There is a high level of compliance with the National Parks and Wildlife Act and Regulations and hunting season conditions. In addition, significant conservation and wetland restoration work is undertaken by hunting organisations. These include management and revegetation of game reserves and the regeneration of habitat on private land. These works have provided major benefits for conservation of wetland systems and the wildlife they support. The Government supports properly managed and regulated game bird hunting by licensed shooters. Responsible hunting has not threatened the survival of those species that are hunted. Sustainable use of wildlife motivates conservation of habitat and can be an effective conservation strategy particularly when integrated with other land and wildlife conservation measures. |
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