Unnecessary Quarantine

It is not good enough that the DPI can not provide horse owners with answers about quarantine periods. Is is really that hard? It is not acceptable to say 'wait a few months'. Peoples lives and horses welfare are at threat. Being unnecessarily cautions is damaging people financially and impacting horses welfare. If horses are no longer shedding the disease they should be permitted to travel. I am speaking from the point of view from horses that are being confined in stables and small yards.

It is three weeks since the virus was detected in my mare yet suggestions of quarantine periods of more than 50 days are still being toyed with. It has also being pointed out to me that once quarantine is lifted from an area the 'state-wide' ban on movement prevents much changing for horses stuck in quarantine areas. How hard is it to determine how long the virus is a threat? Obviously too hard for the DPI.

When I showed concern for my horses welfare a DPI representative failed to understand how confining a horse for 50 days might impact on its health. It is these people who are in charge of deciding the course of this situation and indeed the welfare of our horses!

Owners deserve answers. Give us a date and we might be able to accept it. Give us some restrictions and we might be able to live with them but don't play dictator for the fun of it.

Jamie Turner