Main work in progress is on policies of:
- Animal abuse
- Use of horses in entertainment
- Rodeo – use of flank straps and spurs
The policies with the most immediate relevance to cattle vets and their clients/communities are obviously the rodeo and horse related ones. Comment has closed for these and they go back to the working group. I will keep people updated as to where things are going. As PAC rep I can only represent what is the expressed feelings of the ACV membership.
I personally feel that ACV members need to have more input into the rodeo policy in particular.
As a vet who works in the pastoral industry where rodeo and campdraft are integral to the social and cultural fabric of life, I am very conscious of the need for vets to be seen as a voice of reason and advocates for good, evidence based animal welfare in the running of these events.