The Australian Horse Industry Council today joins calls from the Australian Veterinary Association and the RSPCA for the Federal Government to clarify the status of Veterinarians as an essential service provider should we move to higher level business and community restrictions as part of the response to COVID 19.
While the AHIC strongly supports the need to limit human interaction as an important element to slow the spread of COVID 19, we see the continued provision of Veterinary and related services as an important animal welfare issue.
The AVA have stated that that AVA will ensure that veterinarians are fully aware of the need to comply with strict infection control and incident management protocols. AVA is committed to supporting the veterinary profession in doing so, and has zero tolerance for non-compliance under the circumstances.
This brings Australia in line with many European countries, the US and New Zealand.
The AHIC requests this also should include other essential horse health care professionals providing hoof and dental services.
Provision should also be made for the collection by knackeries of any horse that is deceased or requires humane slaughter.
Additionally, in the event of a Level 4 lock down, the AHIC would like to ensure that horse owners have the capacity to access horse feed from produce stores for their animals during this time. This may be in the form of bulk feed deliveries in the event that produce stores are closed to the public.
The AHIC also seeks clarification that should we reach Level 4, horse owners and managers be permitted to move to feed, manage and protect the welfare of their horses.
President of the AHIC Mark Burnell today said “Horse owners and the broader industry are becoming increasingly anxious about the prospect of a community lock down. They are seeking clarity to help them plan for the coming weeks to ensure that we don’t add an animal welfare problem to the current issues.”
Burnell goes onto say that the AHIC strongly recommends that now is the time for horse owners to prepare and make provision for the care of their horses especially those on agistment properties in the event of increasingly restricted access.
We urge horse owners to continue to monitor the Federal Government’s advice via their website www.health.gov.au