Mr. Paul Geraghty:

I might take one or two questions and then pass over the questions that are more relevant to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We had a previous conversation about the ratios. The feedback we get from local authority vets is that the ratio is a bit of a blunt instrument or crude measurement. Some dog breeding establishments have a high degree of automation, which would in theory free up the people who work there to spend more time with the dogs while others do not so there is wide variation in terms of how people working in dog breeding establishments have adequate time to work on the socialisation of pups. There is that variation.

I take the point about the digitisation of the statistics. It is time that happened and the Department of Rural and Community Development is looking at that. I might let Mr. Ryan speak about behavioural issues. The working group will consider training around responsible dog ownership. It sounds like a sensible measure.

Regarding more detailed statistics and reasons for the surrender of dogs, I would be interested in hearing an expansion of those ideas so if the Senator would like to submit them to the Department separately, we will consider them.