What Dogs Mean to Me
My dogs are my life. I treat my dogs like family. And in America so many pet stores are dedicated to dogs because they are so appreciated. Every dog here is taken care of even if it’s in the pound, are service dogs, or if they roam the streets and get caught, they are taken in. Because “a dog is man’s best friend.” In Australia, dogs are treated like cattle. And that’s what I’m going to speak about. First, the animal welfare issues in Australia, then, how wild dogs affect their society, and lastly, the money spent on dogs are topics that will be brought up.
Dogs and Wild Dogs in Australia
To begin, I want to talk about the animal welfare issues in Australia. This is a great concern in the Australian community. Dogs and wild dogs are a problem. The Australian government’s role is to limit and issue export permits for domestic dogs. This is called the Export Control Act 1982. These permits require an accredited veterinarian to provide a health certificate that certifies the dog is in good health and fit for travel. Once exported dogs reach their destination, they come under the jurisdiction of the importing country. They have been working on importing countries on animal welfare matters. So many dogs live there in packs and roam the streets like gangs and they have to be kept under control.
Next, the topic of wild dogs in Australia is an important effect for Australia’s agriculture. Predation on livestock is a huge issue and happens often. This is a huge threat to any process of products being made such as crops. It is taking a heavy economic and emotional toll on livestock producers in affected pastoral and agricultural areas. Over half the population of dogs are wild dingoes. The Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 helps as a defense against these pests or diseases potentially occurring from them.
Money Spent on Dogs in Australia and the US
Finally, I would like to expose Australia’s money spent on dogs. Financially, dogs are a menace. I love dogs and I find them great companions, but they are considered pests in Australia. Because farmers’ products make top dollar and are world class in the beef/wool industry, dogs are a conflict because of hunting and causing the income of money to decrease. The impact of wild dogs annually costs $48 million. Now America spends around that much money for their “pet” dogs, but Australia sees them as dog “pests.”
How Dogs Affect Society
I would like to conclude by tying in the main points of animal welfare issues in Australia, how wild dogs affect their society, and the dog expenses there. All of these impact the process of living here in one way or another. So how important is your dog is to you? I also have a favorite quote I would like to share; “God said I need somebody strong enough to pull sleds and find bombs, yet gentle enough to love babies and lead the blind. Somebody who will spend all day on the couch with a resting head and supportive eyes to lift the spirits of a broken heart, so God made a dog.” For years dogs have been on this earth and used for various different reasons. They have a big effect on agriculture too. All around the world dogs are contrasting.