Petorama: The past year has reached some new lows...

Ask Yvette

The past year has reached some new lows when it comes to the media coverage of animal issues. It's not the press that has sunk, but rather, they have had their share of horrific stories to cover.

If it wasn't tainted pet food, we were reading about toxic toys. Zoos seem plagued with their share of escaped animals. London became the centre of the controversy on road side zoos and the conditions of a kangaroo that is still missing. Now kennel robberies are holding the spotlight.

It is no wonder that many pet professionals and rescue workers feel the brunt of burnout. As each layer of controversy is peeled back, another unfolds. Those in the trenches must wonder if it will ever end. They fight for tougher penalties and better laws with dismal results.

I think that pet professionals would settle to have laws that matched those of hunters and farmers. It can seem at times that wildlife has more protection than man's best friends.

There are laws that regulate the relocation of wildlife. If I want to have a raccoon removed, I need to use someone who is certified by the government. Hunters require licenses before they can go out and hunt. There are courses they must take and tests to pass. Even with these tests, they might need to obtain tags which allow them to hunt certain game. Farmers must maintain certain health standards when it comes to their animals. In the end, their meat must pass inspection.

It seems to me that companion animals fall into an odd abyss. They are not categorized as wildlife. They are not food either. Many of the laws and standards pass them by.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons we have so many problems with companion animals. No one has written laws that are specific to their needs. Cows don't go for on leash walks in the city. How are agriculture laws at all sufficient for dog or cats? Fish don't just out of the river and bite. Companion animals have a lifestyle that presents safety considerations that need to be addressed.

As the general public becomes more educated, they expect more. No one wants to accidentally kill their companion with toys or food. No one wants to purchase a sick or dangerous animal.

The CBC has several documentaries that can give people an inside view of the pet world. Being educated is the number one way you can protect yourself and protect your animal.

If you enjoy the entertainment that animals can provide, take a look at The Fifth Estate's take on animals in the entertainment world. You may not look at a movie the same way again. If you miss the weekend showing, it is available on the CBC website.

Have you forgotten the pet food scandal of last summer? Maybe you think that the problems have been fixed. The CBC is presenting a documentary on the pet food industry on Thursday 24th at 9:00. A repeat showing will also air on January 26th.

In my opinion, we need this type of attention to the back rooms of the pet world. Many people in the business are wonderful. By becoming educated, you protect yourself from those few that do terrible things.

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Yvette is an award winning pet writer and pet behavior columnist. She also is the author of Meeting Milo, a North American dog bite prevention program to reduce the approximately 2 million children bit by dogs annually. She is the owner of AwesomeDogs.ca and works as a behavior consultant in London, Ontario.

This column was originally featured in The Londoner
See more of Yvette... www.awesomedogs.ca
www.meetingmilo.com

Yvette has 2 dogs of her own, KIKI and KAYA. Take a look...