Sentient, The Veterinary Institute for Animal Ethics in Sydney, Australia | Veterinary surgeon

Sentient, The Veterinary Institute for Animal Ethics

Locality: Sydney, Australia

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25.01.2022 Do vegans and livestock producers have any shared values? Contribute to this survey to find out! Charles Sturt University is canvassing vegans and livestock producers to better understand their opinions about animal welfare and to identify any shared values, as they can provide insight into consumer preference to see if theres opportunity for a collaborative approach to animal production in Australia. Survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/veganandlivestockproducer

25.01.2022 Let's hope this passes! French lawmakers recently debated a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses. The bill would also ban the use of wild animals in television shows, nightclubs and private parties, and calls for a transition period of five to seven years depending on the location. https://www.dailymail.co.uk//French-lawmakers-debate-ban-w

25.01.2022 45 livestock transporters, including drivers and support staff from large stock transport companies like Frasers, Smithfield Feedlot (which operates its own fleet of six prime movers), Cunningham Cattle Co, Moffatt Transport, and a number of owner-operator transport drivers have recently participated in a new pilot animal welfare workshop in Queensland. The workshops aimed to promote safer work practises and better animal welfare outcomes when handling livestock throughout th...e supply chain. There are obvious commercial incentives for improving animal welfare during transport - including issues like inappetence, and the development of feet abscesses and respiratory disease complications due to stress. But obviously this is also important for the animals themselves, who offer suffer terribly during long voyages in cramped conditions with little relief from the elements and a lot of stressful, rough handling. See more

24.01.2022 The rodeo season is up and running, including the cruel practice of calf roping. This video says it all. Please follow the link provided by Animal Liberation Queensland to urge the Labor Government to ban calf roping in the final draft of the Queensland Rodeo Standards and Guidelines.

24.01.2022 Think 2020 has brought you enough to worry about? Think again: a mutated strain of COVID-19 has been found in Danish mink farms, and as a result 17 million minks are being culled for fear of its impact on the pandemic.

24.01.2022 Wildlife experts have warned that COVID-19 has led to a conservation funding crisis. The loss of tourism has curtailed protection programs, resulting in a massive increase in poaching for the illegal wildlife trade. This increase has been reported in India, Nepal, Pakistan, several African countries, and Central and South America. Due to lockdown restrictions, wildlife rangers have been limited in their ability to monitor poaching hotspots. Follow this link to donate to help Stop The Illegal Wildlife Trade.

24.01.2022 We love this - an open access article from researchers at the University of Lincoln that shows positive reinforcement is more effective in training dogs for both target behaviours and general training than using electronic collars. Aversive training methods such as delivering shocks have negative impacts on animal welfare. There is no substitute for reward-based, humane training, which also improves the quality of the human-dog relationship.

23.01.2022 It appears that the extreme health concerns associated with brachycephalic breeds are not enough of a deterrent for pet owners - a new study found that 93% of owners of flat-faced dogs would opt for the same kind of pet again, and two-thirds (66%) would recommend their breed to others. Veterinarians have an important role to play in educating pet owners about the serious welfare implications of continuing to breed these types of dogs.

23.01.2022 This could be good news. We hope bull fighting will bite the dust.

23.01.2022 Look out for Wildlife Safe, a new food certification label registered with the ACCC that allows shoppers to easily identify products that are native-wildlife friendly. Around Australia, large numbers of native animals, including birds, reptiles and marsupials, are killed annually when producers are granted wildlife control permits to prevent the animals from eating crops or damaging equipment. This is particularly common in the production of fruit, vegetables, grains and wine. Wildlife Safe will be launched in August. Alternative crop control measures are available to farmers, but these will reduce profit margins unless consumers are willing to pay more for wildlife-safe produce.

22.01.2022 Dont forget to play your part to help end mulesing in NSW by 2022 and to make pain relief mandatory until then. Just follow the link below to complete the survey. Thank you to HSI Australia for making it so easy.

22.01.2022 A landmark scientific paper published today by Professor Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science at the University of Sydney, shows that humans and horses have the equivalent basic anatomic structures to detect pain in the skin. In other words, horses feel the same pain from whipping as humans do. There is NO justification for the ongoing whipping of racehorses and we applaud Racing Victoria for leading the push to phase out the use of whips altogether.

21.01.2022 Sentients President Dr Rosemary Elliott gave evidence on August 11 to the NSW inquiry into the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act Amendment Bill 2019. Sentients evidence focussed on the need for industry leadership in a transition to smooth bodied Merinos, with a firm deadline for an end to mulesing. Dr Elliott also addressed the limitations of pain relief, although this should be mandatory during a phase out of mulesing.

21.01.2022 NSW MP, Mark Pearson, has criticised the governments mandatory review of the greyhound racing legislation for its censorship, conflicts of interest, flawed submissions process, and controversial funding.

21.01.2022 A report from the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework documents an increase in the use of pain relief for invasive procedures (such as dehorning, disbudding, branding, spaying and castration) from 4% in 2018 to 21% in 2020. This is definitely a step in the right direction and we look forward to this data being published in a peer reviewed journal. The industrys target is for 100% pain relief by 2030. Sentient supports any initiatives allowing producers to reach this target more quickly.

20.01.2022 A $60,000 Queensland Government animal welfare grant has been dedicated to help rehome greyhounds and racing horses across the state, and will be distributed to 11 organisations from Far North Queensland to Brisbane’s southside. This is no doubt much-needed however the best way to improve greyhound welfare in the racing industry would be to cease it all together. https://www.racingqueensland.com.au//racing-animal-welfare

19.01.2022 There are exciting developments in the Life Sciences space, with work being done to develop superior methods of modeling human disease, particular for individual patients - which would replace many animal tests. "Organoids" are 3-dimensional (3D) clusters of stem cells that group together and emulate the microenvironment within individual organs such as the liver, kidney, heart, or gastrointestinal tract. Growing human derived tissues in the tissue culture dish opens up the o...pportunity to study the fundamental cell biology within individual organs, model human disease from individual patients and test reliably new drug compounds to decrease late stage failure of therapeutics and also in a personalized medicine approach. There is also the longer-term potential of growing whole organs and using them for transplantation, thus replacing the need for organ donations. Read more in this fascinating interview. See more

19.01.2022 $18 million has been dedicated towards protecting Australia's koala populations. This money will also go towards a national audit of koala populations - given ...that current estimates are unclear - as well as funding for health research and medical support, as well as the restoration of key habitat sites through on-ground actions such as revegetation, weed control, fencing, managed grazing and tailored fire planning and implementation. It's great to see this issue being taken so seriously, hope that this provides sufficient resources for koala populations, and provides inspiration for less iconic but similarly at-risk species. See more

18.01.2022 The NSW governments newly released code to ensure the welfare of greyhounds and restore public confidence in the industry has been panned by journalist Peter FitzSimons and we concur with his views. Looking beyond the rhetoric about welfare and integrity espoused by Minister Kevin Anderson, this code allows greyhound owners and trainers to maintain substandard kenneling conditions for up to 16 years, which is way longer than the lifespan of any of the dogs involved.

16.01.2022 Have you heard about the virtual protest for the victims of live export thats happening tonight? Animals Australia and SAFE NZ are organizing a virtual protest to send decision-makers a message that the live export of all animals must end. The protest will be hosted on Zoom on Wednesday 16 September and will last for 65 minutes, to represent the 65,000 cows who have been exported from New Zealand already in 2020. There will be a number of speakers and interviews and well b...e taking fast, easy online actions throughout the event. It starts at: 7pm NZST (New Zealand Standard Time) 5pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) 4.30pm ACST (Australian Central Standard Time) 3pm AWST (Australian Western Standard Time)

16.01.2022 Former ship veterinarian Dr Lynn Simpson, who has made 57 long haul live export voyages and blew the whistle on the animal welfare abuses inherent to this trade, writes about how little has changed in the 10 years since she sailed. Her graphic descriptions of the conditions faced by animals and crew alike offer compelling reasons for a total ban on this industry.

16.01.2022 Something you may not have considered in this era of COVID - the impact that disposable masks can have on wildlife! Please make sure that you cut the straps from face masks before disposing them due to the damage the loops can do to wildlife if they make it into the environment.

16.01.2022 One of the saddest ways humans mistreat animals is to keep cetaceans in captivity. With increasing awareness of the impossibility of meeting the welfare requirements of these animals in marine parks, an alternative for those who could never survive in the wild is an open sea sanctuary. Heres a wonderful story of Little White and Little Grey, two beluga whales from a Shanghai aquarium who were taken from the wild at the age of 2, are making the transition to an open water beluga sanctuary in Iceland.

15.01.2022 Dr Mark Tizard from CSIRO has developed a new technology that could end the shocking practice of culling day old male chicks. Learn more through the RSPCA Humane Food podcast.

15.01.2022 Over 50,000 Canadians have signed a petition asking Canada to support the closure of wildlife markets and commit to stopping the global commercial wildlife trade. They are part of a growing movement of more than a million people worldwide who support global charity World Animal Protection's campaign urging G20 leaders to take action at the G20 Leaders' Summit this weekend. It is widely acknowledged that wildlife markets played a significant role in the outbreaks of both COVID...-19 and SARS. Research shows the risk of zoonotic diseases increases when animals are stressed, kept in crowded, unsanitary conditions and traded up the supply chain. The charity is warning governments that the coronavirus has been spreading across mink farms in Europe and the US, forcing authorities to cull millions of infected animals. Sign the petition here: https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.au//beyond-wet-marke See more

15.01.2022 The Animal Justice Party is reigniting the mulesing debate. AJP introduced The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Restrictions on Stock Animal Procedures) Bill to the NSW Parliament in late 2019 and will go before an Upper House inquiry on August 11. Sentient supports this bill, which aims to ban mulesing and mandate pain relief for all invasive procedures performed on farmed animals in NSW. Watch this space!

15.01.2022 Another survey! The Victorian Government is looking for your feedback on whether to allow vets and animal shelters to reunite lost pets with their owners. Under Victorias existing laws, any lost cat or dog must be taken to a local council authorised officer and cant be handed directly to owners from a vet or shelter. We think the new proposed change is a practical and more welfare-friendly idea, saving a lot of stress for all involved!

14.01.2022 Bearded dragons are one of the most commonly kept pet reptiles in Australia, and are viewed as a beginner reptile, but this does not mean that they don’t have specific nutritional and environmental needs that must be met for them to stay healthy. ‘Beardies’ will most often be presented to vets for problems caused by poor husbandry. One of the most common of these is Nutritional Metabolic Bone Disease, caused by deficiencies in calcium or Vitamin D, or lack of sufficient UVB... light exposure. These deficiencies result when owners fail to provide captive reptiles with a proper diet and enclosure set up. NMBD causes brittle bones which can fracture easily, leading to skeletal malformations and other problems such as weakness or paralysis, seizures, and even death from complications. For more information on bearded dragon husbandry, follow this link to RSPCA UK on how to look after your bearded dragon: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwel//other/beardeddragon Image from: https://www.petbarn.com.au//ultimate-bearded-dragon-care-/ See more

13.01.2022 Until live export is banned, we support RSPCA Australias urgent calls for real-time CCTV monitoring in abattoirs and electronic tracking of Australian animals. Recent evidence shows Australian sheep found outside approved supply chains in Jordan and brutal roping slaughter of cattle in Indonesia. Remember the Mark 1 box? Nothing has changed since 2011. ESCAS is a farce.

13.01.2022 A NSW Bill to mandate pain relief (Tri-Solfen) for mulesing sheep and to ban the procedure after 2022 is subject to an inquiry, so please respond to the online survey by 31 July. Sentient will be taking an active role in this inquiry. Mulesing is a painful procedure and at least 15% of sheep in NSW undergo this without pain relief. Furthermore, Tri-Solfen is administered AFTER the procedure, so does not entirely prevent sheep from experiencing pain. The wool industry has had more than enough time to develop a humane alternative to mulesing, and we argue that mulesing itself, not only mulesing without pain relief, is damaging this industry internationally.

12.01.2022 Still feeling angered about our county's obsession with horse racing and the Melbourne Cup? This well written by Emily Rice, senior outreach and partnerships manager at PETA Australia, argues that, as you no doubt agree, "It's well past time to put the Melbourne Cup out of its misery."

10.01.2022 More than a third of Victorians surveyed in a new poll strongly support a ban on duck shooting, while more than half would be less likely to holiday in a regional town during the hunting season. Polling was performed by company uComms surveyed 1031 residents, evenly spread across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, for the Animal Justice Party. https://www.theage.com.au//one-third-back-moves-to-ban-duc

10.01.2022 Hundreds of dog farms that produce dog meat in South Korea have closed down, as attitudes towards animals in the country change. A Neilsen poll found that 57 per cent of South Koreans believe dog meat consumption reflects poorly on the country, an increase from 37 per cent in 2017. Many dogs rescued from dog meat farms by Humane Society International have been rehomed in the US. This trends is really promising.

09.01.2022 A team of South African Scientists are warning that keeping meat animals in conditions where they are stressed creates conditions for new viruses to form - making the Covid-19 pandemic look like a dress rehearsal". https://www.msn.com//meat-eating-creates-risk-/ar-BB1ddTbJ

09.01.2022 Are you a high school teacher interesting in furthering your students' knowledge of current animal welfare issues? Or perhaps a high school student yourself, or parent? Voiceless have developed a fantastic, accessible, comprehensive information packet about the live export trade - check it out!

09.01.2022 How much do we really know about dairy cows? These animals, who are widely exploited, have complex social relationships that are affected by being moved around. A recent observational study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science focused on allogrooming as an indicator of social relationships and highlighted the importance of preserving the social lives of dairy cows to improve their quality of life.

08.01.2022 Great news for apartment dwellers with pets! The Animal Justice Party is presenting a bill to NSW parliament would mean no strata scheme would be allowed to have a bylaw to unreasonably ban animals.

07.01.2022 Blue Mountains City Council are proving themselves to be relatively progressive when it comes to animal welfare: they have recently passed a resolution to recognise that animals are sentient beings; will investigate ways of preventing the sale of imported exotic animal furs and skins on Council property (although the ban unfortunately does not affect the sale of Australian manufactured, "ethically" certified, genuine furs and leather products); and have reconfirmed a 28-year-old stance on banning the use of wild animals in circuses.

07.01.2022 Another tragic casualty of COVID-19 is the mass culling of almost 100,000 mink, most of whom tested positive for the virus on a farm in Spain, where several workers also tested positive. Whatever the direction of any transmission, the farming of mink for fur is fraught with cruelty, and the intensive conditions these animals are kept in can only pose a risk to both human and animal health. Another industry that needs to be shut down.

07.01.2022 Veterinarian Dr Lynn Simpson describes the chequered history of the live export vessel that capsized off the south China Sea, killing 5,800 pregnant dairy cows and 45 crew members. It is typical of the tawdry live export trade that a bomb like the Gulf Livestock 1 was allowed to operate.

07.01.2022 Congratulations to Australian woolgrowers who have ceased mulesing and have switched to breeding plain-bodied sheep who are resistant to flystrike. Its inspiring to hear their stories. Thank you HSI Australia and FOUR PAWS for sharing these resources. The end date for mulesing is long overdue. Lets continue to advocate for a genetic solution to flystrike and spread the word!

07.01.2022 Macquarie University is inviting you to contribute to their research into Australias animal-related planning for, and response to, natural disasters. The purpose of this study is to better understand how different groups and organisations manage animals in disasters, and will produce a publicly available report early next year. The report will include recommendations that inform disaster response planning that involves animal management. Click to take the Survey: https://mqedu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bCoMBPEfXNzZ6L3

06.01.2022 The injury and death rate for racing greyhounds remains a disgrace. This is the information we need to share about greyhound racing. Standards and guidelines are not the answer.

06.01.2022 Sentient recently gave evidence at the NSW parliamentary inquiry into the exhibition of cetaceans in captivity and exotic animals in circuses. MP Emma Hurst from the Animal Justice Party outlines the obvious case for implementing a ban on exotic animals in circuses.

06.01.2022 We are saddened by the tragic news that a live export vessel on voyage from New Zealand to China has disappeared after capsizing during a typhoon. The victims of this needless tragedy include 5,800 pregnant dairy cattle and the 43 people. The Minister for Primary Industries has temporarily suspended consideration of live export applications for cattle. But why temporarily? Australian veterinarian Dr Lynn Simpson, who has undergone 57 live export voyages, advises that the ship in question was relatively small, increasing the risk of disaster in rough weather. We question whether, rather than avoiding the typhoon, risks were taken to meet an economic imperative.

05.01.2022 Racing Victoria is pushing for the gradual banning of whips in races at a national level, other than when used to protect the safety of horses and jockeys. Heres hoping other states want to follow.

04.01.2022 Animals around the world have been left abandoned and starving in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hats off to Animals Australia for teaming up with animal organisations around the world to fund care for street dogs, cats, cows and camels, and horses, elephants and other species previously used for entertainment or transporting tourists.

03.01.2022 Rodeo events are inherently cruel, wherever they occur and are unfit to be passed off as family entertainment. Perhaps a boycott on buying meat products from countries that continue this cruel tradition is the way to go?

02.01.2022 Hooray for Wales, who have instituted a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses starting December 2020! Unfortunately domestic animals will still be able to used in circuses, which is a terrible omission given the suffering they also experience in these horrendous, unnatural environments.

01.01.2022 If youre interested in our recent post on updates to NSW strata laws, you may enjoy this opinion piece, arguing that citizens should not be given unlimited power to run their own communities (as essentially occurs in strata housing) - including the ability to prevent peers from keeping pets.

01.01.2022 The University of Adelaide will stop undertaking forced swim tests after animal rights activists campaigned for the institute to stop the cruel experiment. The test involves leaving mice or rats in a glass cylinder filled with water and making them swim for their life, often as a supposed model for human depression and to better understand how long it takes people to surrender in despair.