ANIMAL WELFARE (Multiagency Approaches) Flashcards
mandatory reporting
-we need to report contraventions
-need to have a reasonable belief/gorunds
-we may be required to provide additional information that is relevant
*important to know what we are supposed to report
>don’t need to report another vet failing to report
will I get sued?
-no, we are protected from lawsuits
animal care duties
-food and water
-vet care
-shelter
-not impact the animals health (unsanitary conditions, inadequate ventilation, shelter, lighting, exercise opportunities)
animal protection act
-no person shall cause an animal to be in stress
-can no allow them to continue to be in distress
-does not apply if distress is from accepted practices (animal care, management, husbandry, etc.)
basic sense of animal in distress
-depreived of adequate food, water, care or shelter
-injured, sick, in pain or suffering
-abused or neglected
*massively expanded in 2017
seizure of animals
-depends on situation
-need to investigate
-right: if indistress, or believe they are in distress
-later on: if they don’t take steps promptly to releive or prevent the animals distress
where can you enter without a warrant?
Places where animals are keep for:
-sale
-adoption
-slaughter
-hire or exhibition or provisions of a service with respect to the animal
how to ID cruelty?
-act or omission, intentional or neglect
-criminal neglect is most common form of abuse
indicators of abuse (non-accidental injury)
-mismatch between history and findings
-pathognomic: repetitive injuries (different stages of healing)
-history of multiple animals with injuries or death over time
how do I know if it’s cruelty?
-understand APA
-know the codes of practice/tools available to you
-you do NOT need to know for sure (reasonable grounds)
-if in doubt, call and talk to someone
hoarding
-failure to provide minimal standards of space, nutrition, vet care, etc
-inability to recognize effects of the failure on the welfare of animals (and human members)
-obsessive: keeps getting animals if if they are progressively deteriorating
-not comonly understood thatanimal hoarding is not present in legit shelter/rescue efforts
type of hoarding behaviour
- Exploiter
- Rescuer
- Overwhelmed caregiver
exploiter
-unlikely to persuade verbally
-unlikely to be intimidated by legal action
-probably essential to prosecute
rescuer
-unlikely to persuade verbally (at least inital stages)
-motivation is to continue with rescue efforts (threat offers potential for scaled down operation)
-may be required to persecute if threats fail
overwhelmed caregiver
-most likely to be receptive to help and downsizing
-threat may be sufficient to reduce the likelihood of recidivsm (reoffense)
-often unnecessary and can be counterproductive to prosecute
case APO perspective
-case comes in from variety of sources
-do initial assessment, calls in a team if needed
case DVM perspective
-phone call from APO
-expectations: plan for the worst, hope for the best
-told broadly what is wrong
-pre call: reading APA and COPs and tell hospital to be ready
case VSW perspective
-get a call
-intervene in the human side of issue
-limited info on resources (finanical history, health)
-pre call: call other agencies, ethical practice, read legislation, learn all local supports
planning on the day
Assessment and discussion of
-safety
-role definition
-potential interventions/outcomes
plan mutual roles: before RCMP arrives
-who enters first
-role identification
-discuss potential bumps in the road
-discuss any new info
VSW ‘chute’ system to RCMP
-description of plan
-explaining expected roles
-building rapport
-upping urgency
APO on-site role
-collect info
-coordinate site
-document
Vet on-site role
-observe and examine animals
-make recommendations to APO and owner/caregiver
social worker on-site role
-observe human
-determine if risk for mental helath or child protection act
-make reccomendations and follow-up with resources
other agencies on-site role
-RCMP
-inpatient/outpatient health
-public health
surrendered animals
-companion: taken to SPCA or humane society (occassionaly a rescue)
-livestock: sold or given to a caretaker
seized animals
-held for 5 business days minimum
-owner can negotiate to have animal returned
-can be euthanized if they cannot keep comfortable
after holding period
- companion animals: generally given to SPCA, etc
- Livestock: usually sold, sometimes given to caregiver
- Horses: sometimes caregiver, sometimes sold, sometimes auction
barriers
-collaboration
-communication
personal toll
-extremely upsetting from human perspective
tons of paperwork
-attention to detail as possible legal repercussions
coping
-lots of debrief discussions
-counselling if/when needed
-follow up on human and animal outcomes
other cases where collaboration is needed
-LINK: animal and human health
-mass incident and environmental diasters
-grief and loss
-misues of animals medications
-suicide ideation in animal owners
