NSW inquiries set to assess animal welfare and breeding bills

The NSW State Parliament is investigating animal welfare legislation and companion animal breeding regulation in two current inquiries.

The Animal Welfare Reform inquiry is aimed at looking at the state’s animal welfare policy and regulatory/legislative frameworks, and will specifically scrutinise the draft Animal Welfare Bill 2021. Meanwhile, a separate inquiry will assess the regulations around the breeding of dogs and cats in NSW, assessing the Companion Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms) Bill 2021.

The AVA is currently preparing submissions for both inquiries, and further information about the respective legislation and submission process can be found on their website.

New online training course for wildlife disease risk analysis

Disease is the primary driver of wildlife population declines worldwide and, as these populations shrink or fragment, the dynamics of stable ecological systems are being disrupted, causing closer contact between wildlife, domestic animals and people – providing novel opportunities for pathogen transmission.

To combat the spread of disease in wildlife, the Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) has launched an online training course in wildlife disease risk analysis. The unique skills taught in the course will allow participants to determine how best to respond to diseases that pose a direct threat to species conservation or could likely result in wildlife becoming a vector/reservoir of disease for domestic animals or people.

CPSG, an initiative of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, has led the development of international guidelines for wildlife disease risk analysis. This course has been designed to equip participants with an understanding of how to put the guidelines into practice, and will be of interest to wildlife veterinarians, ecologists and those involved in wildlife conservation projects. Registration for the course closes on February 18th. Full story: CPSG