OHS Management System: Risk Management
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> Introduction to Risk Management |
> Pets |
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Pets
Community Care
If you are providing home visits, clients’ pets can create hazards. You will need to plan for pets.
- Determine if new clients have pets. Gain information on pets prior to your first visit.
- Specify that clients must notify you prior to getting a pet. You will need to undertake a risk assessment for this as it is a planned change to the work environment.
- All pets must be restrained where practical during your visit.
- Ensure there are no health issues for staff with the type of pets present. Are allergies a problem? Pregnant women should stay away from cat litter.
- What is your policy if a field worker notices a client’s pet is unhealthy or neglected? Ensure your client is aware of your policy regarding pet care.
- Develop a “pet care plan” to assist your client with what to do with the pet if the client needs to go to hospital or can not look after the pet.
Retirement Villages
You should have a written policy on pets. This policy should be given to potential new residents at the time of their enquiry. Your policy should include:
- Are new residents permitted to bring existing pets with them?
- Are residents permitted to get new pets?
- What types of pets are allowed? What about exotic pets such as reptiles? Dogs such as Pit Bull Terriers?
- What restrictions will you place on the pets? Must they be kept indoors? How will this be enforced? Are there limits to pet size?
- Who is responsible for care of pets?
- Do you require pets to have complete immunisation records?
- Do you require evidence of their temperament?
- Will you require residents to pick up pets’ faeces during outdoor exercise?
- What will be the procedure in the event of death of the pet?
- Who will be responsible for assessing the animal’s welfare? Who will pay for these assessments?
- What will happen should the resident’s ability to care for the pet change? What will happen if the resident is no longer capable of independent living?
Aged Care Organisations
Issues to consider
When determining your policy on pets you need to consider:
- Should animals be allowed?
- If so, what type of animals?
- What are the hazards associated with pets?
- What are the care and health requirements of pets?
- What are the emotional ramifications of pets?
What are the hazards?
- Pet temperament – is there a potential biting or scratching hazard? Have animals undertaken obedience training? Are they calm natured and able to cope with excessive attention from humans?
- Pet diseases and parasites – does the animal type under consideration have particular diseases which are transmittable to humans and are fleas or worms a problem?
- Allergies – are your staff or residents allergic to any animals? Is the allergy life threatening or can it be controlled through medications?
- High risk residents – do you have residents with reduced immunity to animal borne diseases?
- Resident behaviours – are there possible negative impacts of introducing pets? If the pet dies, how will staff and residents deal with this?
- Mobility issues – will the pet create slip, trip and fall hazards for staff and residents?
What are the care and health requirements?
It is also important to consider the logistics before deciding your pet policy.
- How much care is required?
- Who will be responsible for bathing and cleaning of the pet and its environment?
- Does the pet require regular supervised physical activity?
- Has the pet been immunised and who will be responsible for future immunisation?
- If staff are to be responsible, do they have the time to do these things?
What are the emotional ramifications?
While there is concrete evidence that animal companionship can have positive benefits, you must also consider how you will deal with any negatives.
- What will you do if the pet dies? How will you manage the bereavement process for staff and residents?
- What will you do if someone has a particular aversion to the type of animal selected?
- It is important to have procedures in place for these situations prior to the introduction of a pet.
Choosing a pet
If you have worked out a plan to minimise the risks and want to have a pet in residence it is then important to choose an appropriate pet.
- Consult with staff and residents about allergies and likes/dislikes.
- Determine time available to care for the pet and agree on responsibilities.
- Consider outsourcing care functions such as bathing.
- Consult the experts about the type of pet that is right for your situation.
Templates & References
For further information see:
- Your local council for information on microchipping requirements – www.dlg.nsw.gov.au
- The Delta Society for information on the health benefits of animals and temperament issues – www.deltasociety.org
- A review of research on the health benefits of companion animals is available at www.healthandage.com
- More information on the health benefits of pets can be found at www.tufts.edu/vet
- www.censhare.umn.edu has several pages of good information on animals as live-in companions in long term care.
- For advice on the right pet for you see www.petnet.com.au