Dear Minister Pulford,

I am truly concerned and abhorred at the treatment of the dogs at the Lost Dogs’ Home (LDH) after the article in “The Age” was released and what was truly going on was brought to light. I am writing to you in the hope that you also see this treatment as a calling and opportunity for change in the shelter guidelines across the state. Shelters are inherently stressful places for dogs and it is vital that dogs in shelters receive mandatory exercise, enrichment and training to improve their chance of successful rehoming.

What needs to be overhauled is the code of practice for the management of dogs and cats in shelters and pounds (CoP).  The document has been useful and really only needs some revisions and also measurable parameters in place. This would in turn create a code that is less subjective therefore much easier to not only adhere to but also monitor and police. Currently recommendations around environmental enrichment, exercise, socialisation and training of dogs are only suggestions and these must be made mandatory and measurable with minimum standards which are enforceable.

The CoP needs to be amended in regards to the environment in which dogs are housed with quantifiable restrictions. It also needs to state specifically minimum requirements for exercise outside of pens, enrichment, how often a dog must be taken out of a pen, how often in a 24 hour period a penned dog must be checked. With the practice of dogs being giving psychotropic medication there needs to be a new section with specific guidelines and clear restrictions around this.

Proposed Amendments:

·       The minimum equivalent of one full-time animal attendant must be 
        employed  for every 20 animals housed at the establishment (1.3)

·       All dogs need to be inspected at least twice per day (am and pm). Dogs
        who are drugged with anxiolytic medications should be inspected at least
        4 times per day for side effects  (2.7.3)

·        Environment enrichment must be provided daily (2.7.4)

·       Quarantine: Dogs must be singularly exercised, with the exception of
        puppies from the same litter or dogs surrendered together for a minimum
        of 10 minutes each day (2.7.4)

·       Quarantine: An exercise area suitable for quarantine dogs must be
        provided (2.7.4)

·       Quarantine/Post Quarantine: Exercise cannot occur in the dog’s own pen
        (2.7.4)

·       Quarantine: Environmental enrichment must be provided daily (2.7.4)

·       Quarantine/Post Quarantine: Long coated  dogs must be groomed at least
        every second day to prevent their coats becoming tangled and matted (2.7.4)

·       Post Quarantine: Dogs must receive a minimum of 10 minutes exercise
        outside of their pen each day (2.7.4)

·       Post Quarantine: Dogs that have not been seized can be exercised outside
        of the establishment. The dog must be restrained by a chain, cord or leash
        that is held by a trained or experienced animal attendant or volunteer (2.7.4)

·       Post Quarantine: Dogs should be walked in groups with other dogs and
        controlled social interaction encouraged (2.7.4)

·       Post Quarantine: Dogs who act aggressively towards other dogs must be
        placed in a structured behaviour modification program. The behaviour
        modification program must focus on retraining the dog using gentle reward
        – based methods (2.7.4)

·       Post Quarantine: An animal attendant must be in visual (omit “or audible”)
        range of animals in each enclosure at all times (2.7.4) [In reference to social
        playgroups for dogs]

·       Post Quarantine: Environmental enrichment in the form of   toys must be
        provided to the dogs every day – using equipment that can be disposed of,
        sterilized or decontaminated (2.7.4)

·       Decibel range is prescribed for shelters in regards to an acceptable noise
        level in the shelter. Such as dog pen area not exceeding the decibel rating
        of 70-90 in the decibel scale (dBA) (3.2)

·       Perhaps also an introduction of measure and acceptable range in regards
        to odour and air quality. This would take into account things like the level
        of carbon dioxide and ammonia content (3.2)