Consultation into Draft Report Rehoming of Companion Animals in NSW

The NSW Office of Local Government (OLG) is seeking feedback on the Draft Report Rehoming of Companion Animals in NSW as part of the Rehoming Practices Review.

The Rehoming Practices Review aims to reduce unnecessary euthanasia of companion animals and to increase successful rehoming of companion animals.

The Draft Report provides an overview of rehoming arrangements of companion animals in NSW, analysis of challenges, potential options for improvements, findings, and the following eight recommendations:

1. The NSW Government to establish an ongoing funding arrangement for a community cat program which councils can apply to and could be run in partnership with the RSPCA or a similar experienced body. This would be targeted to councils with the highest cat intakes. Councils would need to show that they can target the areas with the highest problems and to report on outcomes. The expected cost of a program that would reduce cat euthanasia by one third is $2 million per year on average, initially run over a five year period. Councils would benefit financially from this through reduced pound intakes. However, rather than seeking co-funding from councils, this cost saving would allow councils to redirect resources into increasing adoption rates for remaining animals.

2. The NSW Government provide a definition for types of cats, with a model definition below:

• Domestic cats, which have some dependence (direct or indirect) on humans, categorised into:
  • Owned cats — identified with and cared for by a specific person and are directly dependent on humans. They are usually sociable, although sociability varies.
  • Semi-owned cats — directly and intentionally fed or provided with some other care by people who do not consider they own them. These cats are of varying sociability, with many socialised to humans, and they may be associated with one or more households.
  • Unowned cats — receive food from humans indirectly such as from food waste bins. They are indirectly dependent on humans, may have casual and temporary interactions with humans, and are of varying sociability, including some who are unsocialised to humans.
• Feral cats, which can be distinguished from domestic cats because they are unowned, unsocialised, have no relationship with or dependence on humans, survive by hunting or scavenging, and live and reproduce in the wild. Feral cats do not receive food from humans directly or indirectly.
• Infant cats, which is a cat in the first stage of existence and that is not able to feed and fend for itself or is of such age that keeping it within a pound facility would place the cat’s welfare at risk

3. For annual information reporting to OLG, the NSW Government make the following
revisions:

• The reason for euthanasia currently classified as ‘feral/infant’ be split into ‘feral’ and ‘infant'.
• Euthanised cats and dogs are entered into a future Companion Animal Register (CAR) if they are not already identified so that all animals are tracked within this system. These animals would have an identifier but would not actually be physically microchipped.
• Approved rehoming organisations report separately for cats and for dogs.
• Consideration be given to reporting of animal complaints.
• Consideration be given to being able to prepare automatic reports to councils on rehoming outcomes from rehoming organisations through the redeveloped CAR

4. Administrative arrangements for rehoming organisations be adjusted to:

• Allow approved rehoming organisations limited access to the CAR to minimise administrative requirements for rehoming organisations and councils.
• Remove the requirement to provide information when an animal changes from one foster home to another. Animals would be linked to the rehoming organisation.

5. Behaviour assessment arrangements be revised so that:

• Councils are able to undertake assessments of whether an animal is suitable for rehoming before advertising to rehoming organisations.
• Councils are able to euthanise animals where there are work health and safety concerns for keeping the animal.
• Training programs for behaviour assessment for council staff are supported by NSW OLG, which could include financial support and coordination.

6. The identification and registration system be revised to:

• Remove the annual permit fee for non-desexed cats.
• Waive registration fees for cats through Community Cat programs similar to the waiving of registration fees for rehoming organisations.
• Waive registration fees for animals that are returned to owners from pounds, where this is needed as an incentive for return to owner.
• Make registration (i.e. payment) for an animal occur at the same time as identification. This would mean people selling or giving away animals would be responsible for registration. Note that we would like stakeholder feedback on whether this would reduce animals being microchipped.
• Registration payments would be equal and include a voucher for desexing that goes with this fee, valid for a year. This allows for the desexing incentive to be retained, and identification and registration payment to be combined. The desexing would therefore not be as time limited as is currently the case.
• Require any animal sold or given away to be registered

7. OLG should send messages to all dog and cat owners via text (or email) to remind them to update any relevant information on the CAR — this is already being advanced through the rebuild of the Companion Animal Registry

8. Make it mandatory for animals rehomed or sold through council pounds or rehoming organisations to be desexed, unless there is a cruelty or health reason not to.

The review is calling for feedback on the Draft Report by Friday 21st October 2022 to the OLG Policy Team at olg@olg.nsw.gov.au.

Unfortunately, due to only a consultation period of 2.5 weeks, any interested AVA Members are encouraged to provide feedback on the Draft Report directly to OLG and provide copy of your feedback to the AVA to incorporate into our representations

If you would like to discuss the Rehoming Practices Review or provide feedback on the Draft Report, please contact AVA Senior Advocacy Officer Liz Gemes at liz.gemes@ava.com.au.