Footage of a dogs kept on tethers in a Hunter backyard has sparked a renewed push for action on the tethering and confinement of pets.
Animal Justice MP Mark Pearson has spoken out after receiving footage from a concerned citizen of dogs being tied up in a Hunter backyard on numerous occasions over several years.
The footage shows the dogs pacing in circles at the end of the tether or back and forth in a cage. One dog in a cage can be seen pacing, barking and sitting on top of its kennel.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 states animals must not be tethered "for an unreasonable length of time or by means of an unreasonably heavy, or unreasonably short, tether". It also says the person in charge of confined animals "shall not fail to provide the animal with adequate exercise".
A NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) spokesperson said evidence that an animal was not released during a 24 hour period was evidence of failure to provide adequate exercise.
The RSPCA has been contacted about the home in question on multiple occasions in the past two years and said it was investigating the matter.
Mr Pearson said it wasn't good enough for the RSPCA to take owners on their word that animals were taken off their tether for a "reasonable" time and given "adequate" exercise, and that the laws needed to change to specify what is reasonable and adequate.
He believes the snippets of footage are enough to push for a warrant to install cameras to surveil the dogs' living conditions.
"The RSPCA should no longer be able to say 'if the owner says to us they're walking them everyday then we're satisfied'," Mr Pearson said. "They need to be taking extra lengths - install a camera or hire private investigator.
"I think it's time for a test case to finally get this determined as to what's considered to be reasonable and justifiable.
"I don't think with the amount of concern for animal welfare and technological knowledge now that keeping animals like that would be considered to be reasonable or justifiable.
"I don't think you could have a better case than this."
He also believes animal cruelty laws need to be updated to reflect community expectation, as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is more than 40 years old.
"We've come along way since then," he said. "We now have two people elected to the NSW Parliament Upper House who speak for animals."
The DPI spokesperson said the NSW Government had "committed to reforming NSW animal welfare laws to ensure the legislation keeps pace with the latest animal welfare science, community expectations, industry practises and technology".
Last year the government sought community feedback on issues in the current framework.
"NSW DPI is currently analysing feedback from public consultation and developing policy proposals in response to the issues raised," the spokesperson said.
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