5 September 2007

New Zealand’s Most Important Annual Animal Welfare Conference Imminent

Hailed as New Zealand’s most important annual animal welfare conference, the Eighteenth NZ Companion Animal Conference 2007 is being held in Queenstown on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 September.

Appropriately themed ‘The Summit’ the conference and workshop has attracted a stellar collection of speakers from around the world to discuss vital topics relevant to animal welfare. Never before have so many notable animal welfarists come together to share their knowledge and discuss the issues facing animals, their owners, and communities globally. The inimitable Auckland SPCA CEO, Bob Kerridge, will facilitate the conference, and is delighted that prominent international experts have acknowledged the importance of the annual event by attending. Key speakers and hot topics include:

Major General Peter Davies – Thirty three years in the British Army earned Peter Davies an OBE in 1992, and on leaving the service he became the Director General of the RSPCA UK, and served as the President of WSPA for two years before becoming its Director General in 2002. Major General Davies’ address will feature details of an exciting global campaign to obtain 10 million signatures to achieve a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare of the United Nations.

Dr Hugh Wirth has been the recipient of several state and federal government awards, and an Order of Australia, recognising his commitment and contribution to animal welfare in Australia. He was founding President of the RSPCA in Australia, which was established in 1981, and held the position until 2006. Dr Wirth sits on the Board of Directors of WSPA. His speech will provide his observations on animal welfare issues in Australia, and which of these issues could be tackled jointly with a New Zealand/Australia alliance.

President and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society, Pamela Burns is a highly regarded international speaker who will outline recommendations for creating This media release is issued with approval of the Chief Executive of the Auckland SPCA. social change so people ‘do the right thing.’ Pamela will explain how partnering with community groups, legislators, government agencies, and by creating effective marketing campaigns, people’s attitudes can change thereby contributing to society doing the right thing when it comes to animal welfare.

Jill Robinson has played an enormous part in animal welfare in Asia and was fundamental in rescuing Asiatic Black bears from cruel farming for their bile. Jill ultimately effected the elimination of bear farming in China, forging an historic agreement with Chinese authorities and mercifully rescuing 500 farmed bears. She has been the recipient of both an MBE and the esteemed Marchig Animal Welfare Award for lifetime achievement in animal welfare. Jill will give an inspirational speech on how the plight of animals has influenced her lifetime commitment to saving them.

Director of Animal Welfare, MAF, A C David Bayvel, will look at how New Zealand ranks by world standards, and examine what the primary goals ahead of us are to enhance the welfare of animals in our ‘clean, green country.’ David has chaired the OIE Permanent Animal Welfare Working Group since 2002 and is a member of the Scientific Organising Committee for the Second OIE Global Conference on Animal Welfare to be held in Cairo in October 2008.

Norm Hewitt, former All Black, trophy-winner of Dancing with the Stars, mentor to youth, and ambassador for many charitable organisations including the SPCA, speaks from the heart with his ‘One of the Family’ address. Norm will talk about animals as part of the human family and the role they play in teaching the value of life. He will also look at the current SPCA Educational Programme, targeted at children, which has been a successful and edifying initiative since its inception.

Several other key speakers will address the conference over the two days at the Rydges Hotel.

These include Maggie McTerrier, Ross Blanks, Professor Jacquie Rand (Australia), Dick Murray (Australia) and Professor Kevin Stafford. All speaker details and speech times are available on www.nzcac.org.nz

NOTE: The Dog Control Act - A representative of Local Government will outline some of the recommendations that may be implemented in the years ahead, following the recent review of the Act as requested by the Prime Minister, Helen Clark.

This media release is issued with approval of the Chief Executive of the Auckland SPCA. The Inaugural Annual NZCAC Assisi Awards Awarded at this year’s conference for the first time, the NZCAC Assisi Awards will be presented to individuals in recognition of their outstanding service to animals – the awards are open to both New Zealand and international animal welfarists, and nominations are welcomed from all sectors of the community.

There are a total of six awards and the winners will be announced at the conference awards dinner on Monday 17 September. Notes for Editors: NZCAC history Throughout New Zealand there are many individuals, organisations and official bodies who are concerned with the welfare and control of companion animals.

The diverse nature of their philosophies and operational modus operandi creates a need for open communication and the sharing of ideas and information so that collectively and by consensus, each of them can contribute to the improvement of the welfare of companion animals in our society. It was this ideology that prompted the Auckland SPCA to initiate the formation of an annual forum which would bring together the many and varied animal groups for an exchange of views and ideas. This gathering was in 1990, and was named the Companion Animal Workshop.

Its initial success has seen the gathering convene each year, and as the agendas grew in importance it became apparent that the participants required a structure so the resolutions of each meeting could be more actively pursued and topics further advanced. As a result, the New Zealand Companion Animal Council (NZCAC) was established in February 1996 and has since become a respected national organisation representing the amalgam of a diverse range of animal groups. NZCAC Vision and Strategic Direction

The uniform vision of the New Zealand Companion Animal Council is: To be a forum for the facilitation of a harmonious relationship between companion animals, people and the environment. Additional aspirations of the Council include:

the promotion of the positive benefits of the human/animal bond This media release is issued with approval of the Chief Executive of the Auckland SPCA.

the recognition of the link between animal abuse and family violence and ensuring authorities recognise these links to provide effective preventative and protective measures

preparation of Position Papers on various animal-related issues and collective lobbying to promote these positions at political levels to effect change

development of the alliance with Territorial Authorities in their areas of responsibilities relating to dog control in particular - to improve the environment for both animals and humans The Position Papers prepared by the NZCAC have encompassed issues such as dangerous dogs, a grading system for dangerous dogs, a cat position paper and a microchipping policy paper. Much of the focus of the Council has been the preparation of draft Codes of Welfare for submission to the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC).

These codes provide minimum standards for animals that are expected in law, in addition to recommended best practices. Codes of Welfare have included the first New Zealand code for cats, now published and released by NAWAC, and a draft code for dogs currently under consideration.

The Council is currently drafting a code of welfare for the Temporary Housing of Companion Animals, covering establishments such as pet shops, boarding establishments, animal shelters and pounds.

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The New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) One of the most important initiatives to be developed by the NZCAC is the establishment of the New Zealand Companion Animal Register, officially launching on 1 September 2007. Following the huge debate when microchipping came into force with the Dog Control Act, it soon became apparent that there were several issues which would cause concerns for dog owners and local animal groups such as shelters and pounds.

The government’s microchipping process means the animal owner has to make a visit to the vet for microchipping then a separate visit to their local council for registration of the chip details, disallowing access by vets, SPCA organisations, kennel clubs and other groups involved in the recovery of animals. The NZCAR provides a user-friendly identification and retrieval system for all companion animals that are microchipped and resident in New Zealand. The register is operated under a Trust involving principle stakeholders including the NZ Veterinary Association, the NZ Kennel Club, the NZ Cat Fancy, the NZ Companion Animal Society, the SPCA and the NZCAC.

The system is specifically designed to provide instant access to comprehensive information that will assist in the This media release is issued with approval of the Chief Executive of the Auckland SPCA. reuniting of animals with their owners/guardians.

The NZCAR helps to address time and cost issues, allowing the dog owner to microchip and register the chip at the vet – at the same time. Profits derived from the register will be allocated on application, and at the discretion of the Trustees, to projects that will provide ongoing welfare services to companion animals throughout New Zealand.

NOTE: The NZCAR and the incumbent microchipping technology are compatible – this means a dog picked up by a Dog Control Officer, a council pound officer or an SPCA officer at any time of the day can quickly be scanned and reunited with its owner if it is chipped.

The official NZCAR website is now live – go to www.animalregister.co.nz For an interview with Bob Kerridge, Chair of the New Zealand Companion Animal Council and CEO of the Auckland SPCA,

ENDS

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