PETS AND COMPANION ANIMALS

Companion animals, or pets, play an important role in many people's lives. The Senate Inquiry report made reference to research showing that:

Australia has the highest rate of pet ownership in the world with about 66 percent of households having some kind of companion animal and 88 percent of Australians having had a pet at some time.⁴⁶

The Senate Inquiry received strong evidence that many native animals, and particularly marsupials, do not make good pets. It also noted, however, that some native species could, and do, make good pets, and indeed are kept as pets overseas.⁴⁷

A number of native species are kept as pets in Victoria. In particular, many native birds (such as budgerigars, quails, galahs, sulphur-crested cockatoos), and several amphibians and reptiles (certain tortoises and skinks such as the common blue-tongue lizard) may be kept privately (without permit) - and are relatively easy to keep in captivity, are kept.

Table 6.2 Native animals that may be

kept privately without a licence

Mammals

Dingo (Canis familiaris dingo)

Birds

King quail (Coturnix chinensis)

Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Zebra finch (Poephila guttata)

Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)

Western rosella (Platycerus icterotis)

Scarlet-chested parrot (Neophema splendida)

Bourke's parrot (Neopsephotus bourkii)

Elegant parrot (Neophema elegans)

Turquoise parrot (Neophema pulchella)

Alexandra's (Princess) parrot (Polytelis alexandrae)

Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae)

Star finch (Neochmia ruficauda)

Blue-face finch (Erythrura trichroa)

Long-tailed finch (Poephila acuticauda)

Chestnut-breasted mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax)

Double-barred finch (Taeniopygia bichenovii)

Red-rumped parrot (Psephotus haematonotus)

Rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus)

Painted firetail (Emblema pictum)

Peaceful dove (Geopelia placida)

Diamond dove (Geopelia cuneata)

Galah (Cacatua roseicapilla)

Sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

Little corella (Cacatua sanguinea)

Reptiles

Common long-necked tortoise (Chelodina longicollis)

Murray River tortoise (Emydura macquarii)

Marbled gecko (Phyllodactylus marmoratus)

Cunningham's skink (Ergernia cunninghami)

White's skink (Egernia whitii)

Blotched blue-tongued lizard (Tililqua nigrolutea)

Common blue-tongued lizard (Tililqua scincoides)

Stumpy-tailed lizard (Trachydosaurus rugosa)

Frogs

Plains froglet (Ranidella parinsignifera)

Common froglet (Ranidella signifera)

Spotted marsh frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis)

Southern bullfrog (Limnodynastes dumerilii)

Southern brown tree frog (Litoria ewingii)

Fish (bony fish and cartilagenous fish)

All species (unless listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988)

Invertebrates

All species (unless listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988), including venomous species

The small size of many reptiles, frogs and birds makes them attractive as household pets. Sugar gliders are sold as `pocket pets' in the USA.⁴⁸

Most tree frogs can be maintained easily in an enclosed aquarium.⁴⁹ The green tree frog (Litoria caerulea), a common species native to northern Australia, is widely available in pet shops in Victoria - and indeed in many overseas countries. They are relatively easy to keep and they breed in captivity. They respond well to people, even when handled. In Victoria, however, only the holder of a wildlife licence can keep them.⁵⁰

Many lizards and some snakes are easily kept in captivity. The side-necked tortoises are also relatively easy to keep in captivity. Kangaroos, because of their highly strung nature, do not make good captive pets.⁵¹

Of Australia's approximately 150 species of freshwater fish, there are a number considered suitable for aquaria. Examples are listed in Table 6.3.

Table 6.3 Species suitable for aquaria use

Species	Comments
Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri)	Small specimens are readily kept in aquaria Not found in Victoria in the wild
Smelt (Retropinna semoni)	An attractive aquaria fish
Southern pigmy perch (Nannoperca australis)	An excellent aquaria fish
Spotted butterfish (Scatophagus argus)	An excellent aquaria fish, and used extensively
Western carp gudgeon (Hyoseleotris klunzingeri)	An excellent aquaria fish
Purple spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa)	An excellent aquaria fish
Flat-headed gudgeon (Philypnodon grandiceps)	Suitable for use in aquaria

Source: Derived from Lake, J.S. (1978), Australian Freshwater Fishes.⁵²

In Victoria native animals can only be obtained from captive-bred stock (other than in limited specially approved circumstances). Neither the native animal, nor its eggs or larvae, may be taken from the wild and kept, with the exception of declared pest species, fish and invertebrates.⁵³

Sector Challenges

Unlike most animals used as pets, native animals have not been subject to hundreds or, for many pet species, thousands of years of domestication. Some native animals, because of their size, temperament or environmental needs, are clearly not suited to captivity and domestic environments. Others may have potential, but their welfare depends on the knowledge and commitment of the keeper.

Animals Australia, a federation of groups dedicated to the protection and welfare of animals, is concerned about any extension of the species that are allowed to be kept as `pets':

Australians do not have a good record of animal treatment. Pets, particularly dogs, cats and caged birds, are abandoned or surrendered to animal shelters at an alarming rate. Each year in Victoria alone over 30,000 animals pass through the RSPCA's shelter ... Given that the animal husbandry needs of particularly dogs and cats are relatively well known in the community, it is a reasonable assumption that if native animals are to be kept as pets, each one with different and sometimes complicated habitat, diet and care needs, the failure rate of the `owners' of these animals may be high.⁵⁴