OHS Position Statement: Working Animals
The OHS recognizes that many species of animals are used by humans to assist them in a range of work activities.
The OHS believes that working animals [1] should have the same level of care and commitment to their individual welfare as is expected for companion animals.
The OHS believes that humane and ethical husbandry practices for working animals must ensure that the animal’s welfare takes precedence over any other objective.
The OHS supports the humane relocation of unwanted or retired working animals to an appropriate environment.
Because no legislation exists that is specific to the care and treatment of working animals, the OHS believes that, at a minimum working animal practices must be responsive to the five freedoms of animal welfare: http://www.fawc.org.uk/freedoms.htm
- Freedom from Hunger and Thirst: by providing ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
- Freedom from Discomfort: by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
- Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease: by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
- Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour: by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind.
- Freedom from Fear and Distress: by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
The OHS encourages the establishment of a national Code of Practice for work animals. Such a code would provide guidance on issues specific to work animals such as training methods, hours of work, rest breaks, appropriate equipment, transportation and retirement at the completion of the animal’s working career.
Approved by OHS board of Directors January 2008
[1] A working animal is an animal that is used by a human to enable the human to accomplish a task related to earning a living, to enhancing the human’s capacity to live independently or to support public safety. Examples include carriage horses, service and guide dogs, police, bomb-sniffing and drug detection dogs, among others
