Protecting our Wildlife: Responsible pet ownership
Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2004
Around 70 per cent of Australian households have one or more pets-we value our companion animals. Our unique native animals are also widely valued, with some species kept as pets, but more often simply enjoyed in the wild and as welcome visitors to our gardens. The health of our environment relies on the harmonious inter-relationship of all species within a given habitat. With good pet management and public awareness the needs of domestic and native animals can both be met.
Responsible ownership is the key
Responsible pet ownership allows you to enjoy the presence of native birds and animals in your surroundings as well as your pet. Pets provide companionship and promote respect for the natural world. However, poor management of domestic animals can impact severely on animal welfare and the environment. Feral animals, many of which were brought to Australia as domestic animals but have gone wild, now cause enormous problems.
The impact of domestic pets on native wildlife
A wide variety of native animals, ranging from the more common species like possums, kangaroos, wallabies, lizards and many species of bird, to rarer or threatened species such as bandicoots, koalas and quolls, may be at risk from domestic pets in urban areas.
For example, unchecked, dogs harass and even kill native animals as they move across country in search of food and shelter. Cats are by nature instinctive hunters and are more likely to kill birds and lizards. Even though their human owners carefully meet their pet's requirements for food and shelter, instinctive hunting and chasing behaviour will continue.
Domestic pets also occur in high numbers in urban areas, where native animal numbers are fewer. So even though each individual animal may only kill or injure a small number of native animals, it has a bigger effect on the already reduced population.
What you can do
The responsibility for managing domestic animals rests with their owners. By encouraging responsible pet ownership in your family and neighbourhood you can ensure the welfare of all animals. You can:
- Help reduce unwanted animals, many of which become strays and cause great damage to native animals. If you can no longer look after your pet, take time to find them a happy new home, or take them to the RSPCA. Report suspected cruelty of uncontrolled animals.
- Don't release animals into the bush. Besides the impact they have on native
animals and their habitat if they become feral, animals dumped in the bush
may not survive and will suffer needlessly. Goldfish or other fish species
flushed down the toilet or released into local waterways can upset the natural
balance and impact on native fish species.
Even returning native animals to the bush creates problems. Once native animals have been kept in captivity they may no longer know how to fend for themselves in the wild. There is also the risk that there may not be sufficient food and shelter for them because of other animals in the area. Always seek guidance. Give sick and injured native animals to carer groups such as WIRES or call your local National Parks and Wildlife Service office for advice. - Ensure that dogs are kept under control. Put dogs on leashes in nature reserves or bushland where native animals are likely to be vulnerable. Keep your dog confined in the backyard, particularly when you are not there. If you live in a flat, walk your dog daily and properly train your dog to respond to your commands.
- Keep cats inside overnight-and particularly at dawn and dusk. Even well fed cats roaming at night hunt and kill possums and other small native mammals while birds are often targets at dawn and dusk when they are most active. It will also protect the cat from fights and the subsequent infection and disease, and reduces the risk of your cat being run over.
- Go horse-riding in designated areas. If you own a horse or go riding in bushland, find out from the National Parks and Wildlife Service the authorised places in your area to ride. Keep to marked trails, particularly in bushland. Horses, like other hoofed animals, cause compaction of soil as well as erosion that can cause run off into streams affecting water quality and flow. Horses can also spread weeds that overwhelm native plants, impacting on the habitat of native animals.
- Obtain and keep native pets legally. Although many native species are not
well suited to domestic life, most states and territories do allow some native
species to be kept as pets under certain conditions. Make sure you check with
your National Parks and Wildlife Service office as to what you can have in
your state and what the conditions are.
Research the care needs of your native pet carefully. The more you know the more you can improve the changes of your pet's survival. Many species, such as reptiles, do not show their distress clearly and can die slowly in captivity. Alternatively, you could encourage native species to visit of live in your garden by planting suitable food and shelter species and having water available-you may find you may get even more pleasure from that.
For more information, contact:
Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Community Information Unit 1800 803 772
Web site www.deh.gov.au