Positions

Desexing

Companion animals should be desexed at point of sale or transfer unless in an exempt category. Desexing exemptions can apply if:

  1. the animal is to be used for official purposes, trialling, showing or breed potential through a registered government authorised organisation, or
  2. if there is a veterinary-authorised medical condition which would put the animal at serious risk if desexed, or
  3. if the new owner has a government authorised permit for breeding.

 
All companion animals should be desexed unless in exempt categories.

Microchipping

All dogs and cats should be microchipped. Microchipping is recommended for all other companion animals where it is appropriate and feasible.

Euthanasia

Euthanasia is only acceptable for companion animals who are:

  1. suffering from extreme and incurable illness or injury and lack of quality of life as defined by a veterinarian, or
  2. displaying dangerous behaviour with a poor prognosis for rehabilitation.


Policies and strategies should be developed to prevent euthanasia in pounds and shelters, so that all pound and shelter animals who are healthy or treatable (physically and behaviourally) can be rehomed.

Pet Shops

We support pet shops in their role as suppliers of pet equipment. If pet shops choose to offer animals for sale, they should rehome dogs and cats on behalf of shelters/pounds or from government-authorised breeders who abide by a Code of Practice with exemplary animal welfare standards.
Pet shops should be subject to Codes of Practice and unannounced regulatory inspections.

Education

We advocate strongly for education to develop a community which is informed about and respectful of companion animals, to enable responsible care for companion animals and to prevent their neglect, mistreatment and abandonment.
This includes:

  • animal owner education
  • primary, secondary and tertiary student education
  • community education


As advocates of the value of the companion animal-human bond, we encourage all stakeholders to become involved in education and training programs which develop this bond.

 

Breeding of Companion Animals

We encourage reponsible breeding practices. We are opposed to industrial scale or indiscriminate or uncontrolled breeding and any neglect and cruelty towards breeding animals and their litters.

 

Animal Enclosure

All companion cats and dogs should be enclosed safely on their owner's property and should not be allowed to roam freely. They should only leave the owners property on a leash or under effective control.

 

Animal Hoarding

The AWL Australia strongly opposes the practice of Animal Hoarding.