23/01/2022
Many of you would not be aware that the NSW parliament has drawn up a new draft animal welfare bill. While the bulk of the bill is a good thing there has been a single line snuck in, The line is in Div 3 section 22 subsection (e) no surgical AI for dogs. This may not seem an issue for most but for dog owners it is. Even if you don't think it will affect you because you don't breed dogs. The flow on effect will catch up to you if you want a good quality pedigree dog. I will now include my submission and I urge all to consider putting in a submission even if you don't live in NSW because once it gets a foot hold in one state the others will follow. I will include a link at the bottom of the post.
"My background is policing. I was a Queensland police officer for over 22 years, with over 17 years as a dog handler. In which I not only raised and trained Police dogs to the highest standard but also trained handlers. I have since age retired from the police and have successfully been breeding working line German Shepherds for the services, sports and families.
Where I do not object to the laws overall I do object when I see laws being made that have the ability to destroy not only livelihoods but the improvement of breeds. I have a concern with this new act that I would like to voice. My concern is division 3 section 22 prohibited procedures subsection (e) surgical artificial insemination on a dog.
If this is proposing that surgical AIs are no longer possible, how are we in NSW going to have access to the best quality sires from across the country and around the world. Frozen semen is the only way and as the cost of these highly sort after sires are expensive it will push the cost out of reach of most breeders as any other procedure requires twice the amount of semen. In some cases that semen is not available in the amounts required (past generational sires).
Loss of income for people and the state. There are whole industries that supply this practice. From semen transport and storage to specialist clinics providing expert procedures. If breeders cannot access surgical AIs in this state they will be forced to access the procedure interstate, meaning a loss of revenue all round for NSW but a gain for states like QLD.
Discrimination towards responsible dog breeders. What is the justification of making this cruelty towards dogs and not other animals. It appears that dog breeders have been singled out. Why not any other species breeders? You can surgically AI a cow, horse or even a cat but not a dog, that sounds very discriminative to me. Is there a hidden purpose?
Promote inferior breeding. The preposed law does not go any where near stopping the real issue of cruelty towards dogs, the backyard breeder. This plays into their hands as many ethical breeders will not be able to supply quality dogs. We might as well go back to backyard breeding. As a breeder of working line dogs I am attempting to produce a dog with strong nerve and good temperament and if I am limited to only natural mating or Transcervical (TCI) AIs, it will severely hamper this aim. I am sure my chosen breed would not be the only working lines effected. In the long term the lack of access to good proven sires will effect the reliable working dogs available not only for the government Services themselves but for farmers, assistant dogs and many other working and sport dogs. The States Police force will also be unable to use their own frozen semen banks.
While (TCI) can be performed it is my understanding more viable semen is required and in the case of frozen semen this can be hard to come by and more cost inhibiting. As well as less successful as a surgical AI. While the surgery can be considered invasive there is very little risk to the dog and any ethical breeder and veterinarian would never do more than one or two procedures on a breeding bitch as it is not fair to the dog and scaring can cause less productivity in the production of a litter. If the concern is that more than a couple of surgeries would be performed on a bitch surely measures could be put in place to monitor such things eg. registers kept by vets. Instead of banning such a beneficial practice not only for society but for the breed itself why not just regulate it.
I believe that the majority of responsible breeders and trainers have sat silent for too long which has allowed this situation to develop. I don’t know a responsible breeder or trainer who would allow cruelty to occur to their beloved animals. "
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=2853&fbclid=IwAR1mnBdYNWexaqlh9jBqaQWMqE1TJZmdeTKDhYF07Kk4mRYXK_tDzv3-oqY -submissions
Also worth contacting MP Mark Banasiak at email address; [email protected] Mark is going into bat against this and other questionable sections of this proposed legislation. It is also firing up an email to you local member. As well as contacting your local states Dogs Australia council.
We have until the 13/2/2022 to lodge an objection.
