Exotic Pets Overwhelm the Urban Animal Conversation

One can hardly imagine a more gripping tragedy than that emerging from Campbellton, New Brunswick, over the past few days. The apparent killing of two little boys (4 and 6) by an African Rock Python has been headline news across Canada and around the globe. Obviously the present focus, must in the foreground be to support the grieving family, while in the background experts collect the evidence and facts that can support an Urban Animal conversation.

THE STORY

Coincidentally, just prior to the incident (Saturday), the Globe and Mail Pet Project printed a discussion of the role of exotics and wildlife in society for consideration. While this seemed reasonable at the time, by Wednesday, social conversations had moved from the right and reason to own exotic pets (seeing this as trivial) to public safety. 

GLOBE AND MAIL

While the New Brunswick incident may be shown to be an anomaly in reptile behavior, for the public, a natural fear of snakes and a low level of attraction for exotics has moved the conversation to a series of questions:

• Why are such critters kept in private homes? 
• Why should pet owners to be allowed to have exotic animals in a modern urban municipality? 
• What 'rights' are involved? 
• What process will resolve conflicts between those who are eventually shown to have 'rights'? 
• Who should lead this conversation? 
• Which voices should be heard?
• Can public safety be ensured with better legislation, licenses and compliance? 
• Who should be responsible to enforce compliance?

While this conversation swirls around the internet, PIJAC Canada is hard at work ensuring that accurate information is available to media and the public. They together with their allies in the Urban Animal Industry had the foresight to prepare the PIJAC Exotic Animal Policy which has been used by legislators and enforcement officials across Canada.

It is clear this conversation must also come forward at the eighth annual Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in October. Summit Alumni and invited International guests will be challenged to sort through the facts and evidence during the Friday Forum to answer these questions and to develop strategy that will uphold the rights of people and pets while ensuring public safety.

Those who have contributions for this conversation are invited to contact PIJAC Canada or the Urban Animal Foundation directly.

Kijiji Thwarted in Attempt to Ban Pet Broker

A CBC report earlier today shows the energy some individuals will invest to continue irresponsible behaviors. Clearly, a positive pet experience is unlikely to begin with a delivery that takes place in a parking lot or with a purchase from someone that hides behind third party identities.

Sean McIntyre provides a compelling rendition of the problems faced by Kijiji across multiple episodes with one individual and shows how 'ban avoidance' occurs. Just how the industry can prevent these kinds of behaviors in Canadian communities remains a work in progress. It is likely to be a component of the conversations taking place at the Urban Animal Regional Conference in Halifax just a few weeks from now.

An obvious requirement will be collaborative enforcement activities across the industry and perhaps the kind of standards legislation that has been brought before the BC Government by North Vancouver MLA, Jane Thornthwaite.

Read the CBC Report

THANKS CANADA!

DOG DAZED Online Chat was positive and robust 

A must see documentary on the urban dog, three industry experts, six time zones and an industry engaged in the Pet Experience conversation. It all added up to lots of sharing, fun and information. Industry experts learned about real time communications and how to find obscure evidence/references quickly.

InfoStream extends a big THANK YOU to Barbara Cartwright, Executive Director of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and Louis McCann, Executive Director of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada for investing their knowledge and evening to the DOG DAZED presentation. Kudos to our colleagues at CBC Doc Zone, Bountiful Films and CBC Online for bringing the Urban Animal Industry this unusual opportunity.

The response to the experience from those who participated and viewed the program, has been overwhelmingly positive. But for the industry this is not the end, nor is it the beginning of the end. It is rather, the end of the beginning.

The Urban Animal Industry now moves to the 2013 Regional Conferences where the Pet Experience Workshops intend to gather input from key government leaders, urban planners, licensing agencies, veterinarians, retailers, breeders, pet owners and humane/rescue representatives in four events across Canada.

DOG DAZED is scheduled for two more screenings:

CBC News Network, Saturday 11 PM ET

CBC-TV, Sunday at 6 PM ET

Please check your local CBC listings for the time in your area.

Community Leaders and Urban Animal Issues

The industry is facing unprecedented changes to the way companion animals are entering and being served in urban Canadian communities:

• The developing online marketplace has disrupted the relationships between the traditional providers of dogs, cats, goods and services and the pet families they serve.
• Visits to healthcare providers are trending downward.
• The incidence of relinquishment and abandonment is trending upward.
• New regulations for breeders, retailers and other service providers are being implemented in many communities.
• Meanwhile, stakeholders are asking if the National Companion Animal Coalition (NCAC) speaks for the whole industry.

The conversations around these elements of the companion animal industry have not always been inclusive.  The 2012 Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies are positioned to gather the input of community leaders who have the best interests of a healthy community for pets and people in mind.

SUMMIT REGISTRATION    Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the industry

There still may be Iams or Petsecure $100 vouchers available. If you need assistance contact Judi Cannon 1.705.749.6607 or judi.cannon@petlynxmail.com