“There should be a law against that” – rescuer


The speakers at the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy Conference were from an incredibly broad spectrum of animal related backgrounds; from groups working to improve the welfare of animals in zoos and laboratories, in beef and milk production, chicken farming and rodeos, right through to groups who work on the frontline of animal rights. Two major conference sponsors were the RSPCA and the AWL, another was Meat & Livestock Australia. But although every one of these groups had their own positions, some directly opposing – the level of ‘crazy’ was incredibly low.


Why? Because those most connected to the law process don’t have the luxury of relentlessly pursuing a particular view point – they realise they have to work together with the industry to bring about change.


That’s not to say these individuals aren’t driven by a dream of their own idea of animal welfare utopia, it’s just that the law can only move as fast as society. There’s very rarely a law enacted that is unpopular with the majority of the population; that’s simply not good politics.


Say, I think all dogs should be brown. I have a whole bunch of reasons why being brown is better for the welfare of dogs. But if most in the community don’t care about dog colour and those in the dog industry don’t support my ideal, rest assured there will never be brown dog enforcement.


Cue the effective industry participant. They work with multicoloured dog breeders to find out their motivations and work to show the benefits of breeding brown dogs. They educate the community to their point of view with research and clever messages. They accept that there will never be a law that can make the change overnight – and that any law is simply a way to gather up any laggers once the commuity has already changed.


If your plan for success hinges on getting a new law, then you’re likely to die waiting. Like living a life hoping to win the lottery, if you find yourself thinking ‘if only we could get the government to bring in a law’ – take it as a sign that you’re in a impotent frame of mind and are probably not doing enough to bring about actual change.


You can’t beat them – you must join them. Walk into the den of the enemy, sit quietly and listen to their point of view. Engage the community with your message. It’s only once you stop calling for the heads of the people who have a different point of view to you and instead work to engage them, that you’ll have the chance to bring about change.