Do you think penalties for people who commit acts of cruelty are strong enough?
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The NSW department of primary industries has released a discussion paper on current penalties and ways to improve the management of animals during emergency situations.
The DPI is seeking feedback.
Port Macquarie Animal Welfare Service's Leonie Heath says the current penalties fall short.
"The current punishments are just totally inadequate," she said.
"We cover the region from Kempsey, Wauchope, Camden Haven and Port Macquarie.
"While we get many animals surrendered to us - the RSPCA should be called first in instances of animal cruelty - we do experience acts of cruelty every year.
"Our goal is to ensure the safety of all animals. But some people are just cruel to their animals when they want to get rid of them," she said.
Ms Heath said some of those instances included, kittens with fish hooks embedded in their shoulder, kittens used as a bait in dog fighting and animal litters dumped on the roadside in pillows and plastic bags.
"Our organisation will certainly make a submission on the penalties and we will also be encouraging our members and other rescue outlets to do the same," she added.
Our organisation will certainly make a submission on the penalties and we will also be encouraging our members and other rescue outlets to do the same.
- Leonie Heath
DPI acting cief animal welfare officer, Kim Filmer, said the community felt passionately about animal welfare.
“We know community views about animal welfare are changing. We want to know how people feel about the current penalties for animal cruelty offences so we can ensure they are in line with community expectations," she said.
“The discussion paper compares penalties in NSW with other states and other offences in this state.
“In addition, the discussion paper canvasses changes to legislation to better protect animal welfare during critical and emergency incidents. This includes natural disasters, business bankruptcy, drought and crashes involving stock carriers.”
The release of the discussion paper follows on from the launch of the NSW Animal Welfare Action Plan in May, and delivers on commitments detailed in the Plan.
The community will continue to be consulted as new policy and legislation changes take shape over the coming months and years.
“By making a submission on the discussion paper the community can be involved in ensuring that people responsible for animals provide for their welfare, in line with the best available science and community expectations,” Dr Filmer said.
Feedback can be provided in an online survey, which will be open until 5pm on July 22, 2018.
More information is available online at https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/animal-welfare/improving/improving-the-current-legislation-penalties-and-critical-situations
