Them Cheeky Dogs

Challenges & Opportunities in

Remote Community Animal

Management

Northern Institute People. Policy. Place. Seminar Feb 2018

Dr Bonny CummingProject Officer – AMRRIC

Overview

Value of companion animals

Impacts of unmanaged populations

Ingredients of effective companion animal management

AMRRICs work

Opportunities

Overview

About AMRRIC•

Companion animal health and management challenges •in remote communities

AMRRIC• ’s approach to improving community health

Oliver • Ankin’s story

Data: Animal Medicines Australia, 2016, ‘Pet Ownership in Australia’

Across the nation:

62• % of households own pets

Two in five households •have dogs

Three in ten households •have cats

Companionship

Incorporation into kinship system

Hunting

A source of warmth

Protection - physical and spiritual

Dogs’ Importance in Aboriginal Culture

Incorporation into creation & ‘dreaming’ knowledge

Artwork: ‘Papa Tjulurrpa (Dog Dreaming), Doris Bush Nungarrayi

Overpopulation

• “I just don’t want any more puppies. It’s not my choice she keeps having puppies. The boy dogs keep getting to her. I don’t want any more puppies. Too many.”

• Elderly Yolngu lady, Maningrida 2016

Parasites

After:

Welfare

Zoonoses

Litter

Nuisance

Threat

Problems caused by

companion animals

Intolerance for

companion animals

Ambivalence or cruelty to companion

animals

Lack of effective

companion animal

management

Cycle of IntoleranceAdapted from 2016 International Conference on Human Behaviour Change for Animal Welfare presentation by Dr Kate Atema, International Fund for Animal Welfare

Problems caused by

companion animals

Intolerance for

companion animals

Ambivalence or cruelty to companion

animals

Cycle of IntoleranceAdapted from 2016 International Conference on Human Behaviour Change for Animal Welfare presentation by Dr Kate Atema, International Fund for Animal Welfare

Annoyance & •frustrationSadness & shame•Fear • – attack &/or health risk

Discord amongst •community membersInhumane •management practices

Trauma & anger•Inhibited empathy •development

Lack of effective

companion animal

management

Key ingredients for effective companion animal management

Geographic and economic 1.access to veterinary services, prophylactic treatments and animal care products

Local Government 2. Authorities (LGAs) that have the resources and knowledge to implement appropriate Animal Management Programs (AMPs)

Societal culture that generally 3.adheres to local by-laws and encourages the concept of responsible animal ownership

1. Access to animal health

care & services

2. LGAs resourced to implement

AMPs

3. Supportive societal culture

1. Access to animal health

care & services

2. LGAs resourced to implement

AMPs

3. Supportive societal culture

Benefits of effective animal management

Improved animal health and welfare•

Improved human health and wellbeing•

Improved community amenity and safety•

Reduced negative impacts on wildlife and ecosystems•

Reduced biosecurity risks•

Enhanced empathy development•

Keys to AMRRIC’s approach

1. Understanding and respecting peoples’ connection to their animals

2. Working with all stakeholders to develop culturally appropriate tailored programs that meet the needs of the community as a whole

3. Building trust and implementing changes slowly, allowing people to personally recognise the benefits of participation

AMRRIC aims to be a resource:

For Local Government Authorities and animal •management staff

For veterinary service providers•For stakeholders impacted by, or with an interest in •remote community animal management

For communities•

AMRRIC’s areas of work

Assisting Local Government Authorities:

• to develop and implement animal management programs

• by advocating for increased resources

• to connect with veterinary service providers

• to promote responsible pet ownership

AMRRIC’s areas of work

Assisting veterinary service providers:

• with guidelines, resources and advice

by linking with local community contacts •• by facilitating mentor/mentee relationships

by supplying vet and vet nurse volunteers•

AMRRIC’s areas of work

Assisting stakeholders impacted by, or with an interest in remote community animal management:

• by providing advice

• by catalysing relationships

• by promoting evidence-informed decision making

• to promote a culture of responsible animal ownership

Assisting communities

Opportunities

Further evidence in support of One Health links•Resources and training to build local animal management •capacity

Legislative requirements, and concurrent resource •allocation to support the delivery of effective animal management

Knowledge transfer aimed at increasing empathy and •responsible animal ownership

Improved collaboration between stakeholders at all levels•

“Being an AMW is important for dogs so they don’t get scabies... which they then

don’t share with people. So it’s important for people

too.”

“Aboriginal people have always looked after their dogs, but they’re seeing

there’s more control of numbers if less puppies are being born. There’s more

food to go around as well and less problems with aggressive dogs. Kids are learning and washing their hands.”

“I like being an AMW because it’s a job where you can see results. For example, you go

back [to a community] a month or so after you’ve visited and you can tell which dogs have been treated. They do look fit

and healthy... ultimately the job is making that difference in

closing the gap and improving the health of dogs and people.”

Further readingAscione• , FR & Weber, CV. Children's attitudes about the humane treatment of animals and empathy: One-year

follow up of a school-based intervention. Anthrozoös, 1996, 9:4 188-195.

https://doi.org/10.2752/089279396787001455

Attema• , K, The Cycle of Intolerance and its Impact on Basic Dog Care Provision Behaviors, 1st International

Conference on Human Behaviour Change for Animal Welfare, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otxnoz3NExg

Constable, • SE, Brown, G, Dixon, RM, & Dixon, R. Healing the Hand that Feeds you: Exploring Solutions for Dog and

Community Health and Welfare in Australian Indigenous Cultures. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social

Sciences, 2008, 3 (8), 219-229.

Constable, • SE, Dixon, R & Dixon, R, For the Love of Dog: The Human–Dog Bond in Rural and Remote Australian

Indigenous Communities, Anthrozoos,2010, 23:4, 337-349 http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/175303710X12750451259336

Donohoe, • P, Garrawurri, YB, & Trudgen, R. The place of dogs in Traditional Culture Philip Donohoe, Big Lick 2000

Conference Proceedings, 2000 http://www.amrric.org/resources/view/159

Senior • K, Chenhall R, McRae-Williams E, D, and Rogers K. Dogs and people in Aboriginal communities: Exploring

the relationship within the context of the social determinants of health. Environmental Health 2006, 6, no. 4: 39.

Smout• F, Schrieber L, Speare R, Skerratt LF. More bark than bite: Comparative studies are needed to determine the

importance of canine zoonoses in Aboriginal communities. A critical review of published research. Zoonoses Public

Health. 2017;00:1–10.

Questions?

www.amrric.org | bonny.cumming@amrric.org