Sydney’s dog-loving Lord Mayor Clover Moore also wants to expand subsidised vet services to help pet owners suffering bill shock after seeking treatment for sick animals,as the cost of living crisis impacts animal welfare.
Sydney vet Dr Anne Quain with Bentley,a patient at the Potts Point Veterinary Hospital.Louise Kennerley
Moore will write to the NSW government seeking a change to food and companion animal laws to allow dogs inside cafes,restaurants and pubs across the state after City of Sydney councillors voted unanimously to back her motion on responsible pet ownership.
“Many people want to bring their pets to cafes and pubs and increasingly operators want to allow it,” Moore said.
She said current laws had not kept pace with community expectations,and prohibited dogs in indoor food service areas even when a business owner welcomes pets inside.
”The laws and regulations also oblige the City’s health and building team to enforce this ban,” she said.
Genovese Coffee House in Alexandria was forced to stop allowing dogs inside the cafe after council rangers told owner Adam Genovese it was against the law.
“If anything our customers are very upset and feel inconvenienced by this,” he said. “Dogs were required to be on a lead,seated on the floor and in a designated area,furthest away from any food preparation areas. We were always mindful of non-dog owners and to be honest we never had a complaint or issue.”
Hospitality venue operator Solotel supports allowing dogs inside its pubs,which include The Clock in Surry Hills,The Courthouse Hotel in Newtown and Golden Sheaf in Double Bay.
Solotel chief operating officer Ben Stephens said community expectations had changed when it came to pets.
”For so many of our customers,their dogs are members of the family and so being able to bring them to venues with them is important,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said the state government was open to reviewing laws that encourage more people to enjoy our hospitality venues “provided we can always maintain food and community safety”.
Medicare for pets
The council also voted to investigate expanding access to subsidised vet services for people on low incomes and suffering financial hardship.
“While pet owners are responsible for the welfare and health of our animals,we provide these services because we know how important pets are to people’s lives and wellbeing,and we want to limit the number of pets that are abandoned,” Moore said.
An RSPCA NSW spokeswoman said more pet owners were seeking assistance from the animal welfare organisation with veterinary expenses.
She said the cost of vet care is regularly cited by defendants prosecuted by RSPCA NSW as a reason for failing to provide treatment to their animals.
Calls for Medicare for pets follow a NSW Parliamentary inquiry into the veterinary workforce shortage,which is also looking at barriers to accessing vet care and is due to issue its final report in June.
The Animal Justice Party backs Medicare for pets – or Veticare – to ensure no animal is surrendered or euthanised because of financial reasons.
AJP Upper House MP Emma Hurst said dog and cat surrender rates in NSW had skyrocketed,placing pressure on pounds and shelters that do not have room for any more animals.
“We’ve heard evidence that many surrenders are occurring because of the cost of living crisis,” she said.
Hurst said Veticare would also prevent putting vets into difficult situations with distressed clients who cannot afford to treat their animals.
“Many people expect vet care to be the same or less than human health care,not realising that Medicare subsidises or covers many costs that aren’t covered for vet care,” she said. “That means an MRI for your dog can cost far more than an MRI for yourself.”
Hurst said companionship of an animal should not be reserved for a wealthy elite:“Denying an older person an animal because they are on a pension will have long-term ramifications for animals and people.”
Veterinarian Anne Quain said the costs of providing veterinary care – including diagnostic equipment,imaging,surgical instruments,medications and rent - had increased substantially in the past 20 years.
“The same applies in human healthcare,but we have Medicare in Australia which heavily subsidises medical costs,” she said.
Quain,a senior lecturer in the Sydney School of Veterinary Science,said Medicare for animals would be wonderful.
“We need a safety net to help animals whose owners cannot afford veterinary care or pet insurance,” she said.
An Australian Veterinary Association spokesman said Medicare had caused a “disconnect” between the community’s understanding of the actual cost of delivering human health care and its perceived cost,“which gives the perception that veterinary care is expensive by comparison”.
The AVA supports increased government funding for vet care;however,the spokesman said publicly funded clinics in competition with existing vet hospitals may further undermine the sustainability of local practices.
