ACT Govt wants dog owners to spend 3 hrs a day with pets

Under a draft code, the ACT Government has proposed introducing a legal requirement for dog-owners to spend at least three hours a day with their pet.

In 2019, the ACT became the only Australian jurisdiction that recognises animals as “sentient beings,” that have “intrinsic value and deserve to be treated with compassion”.

Here’s what you need to know.

Context

Earlier this month, the ACT Government released its draft of a Code of Practice for dog welfare, advised by the territory’s Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC).

Codes of practice provide safety and standards information on specific tasks. This code will outline mandatory standards that individuals responsible for dogs must meet.

It’s aimed at ensuring all dogs are comfortable, secure, and physically and mentally safe.

Change

Under the code, proposed changes would include “requiring all dogs to have a minimum three hours of human contact daily”.

The code says: “Dogs that are left alone for long periods of time without the company of humans or dogs... are likely to demonstrate undesirable behaviours such as excessive barking, destructive behaviours such as chewing and digging, and may try to escape.”

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The code also plans to restrict the use of retractable leads, because it says they can cause injury.

Penalties

An ACT Government spokesperson told TDA failing to comply with the code of practice may result in a financial penalty.

Under ACT law, the Government can choose to make codes mandatory when they relate to animal welfare.

There are already existing requirements that dog-owners in the ACT must meet, such as requiring dogs three months and older to be microchipped. Those who don’t comply face a maximum fine of $3,200.

The requirement to spend three hours with a dog would also be mandatory under the proposed changes.

However, it is not in effect yet. The ACT Government is currently seeking feedback to “ensure [the code] meets community expectations.”