Animal Justice Party candidate Elly Mousellis’s extended family includes her dwarf rabbit Leona. By Catherine Watson
ANIMAL Justice Party (AJP) candidate Elly Mousellis’s extended family includes a cockatiel, a gecko, 27 fish and a three-year-old Netherland Dwarf rabbit called Leona.
Elly adopted her cockatiel Petrie from the pet store where she works when it became apparent she had special needs due to past treatment. Her wing feathers had been severely chopped to prevent flight and she had sight and anxiety issues. Petrie is now thriving and her flight feathers have grown back in full.
Elly has always loved animals – she is also a wildlife rescuer – but has only recently become political about it.
Her work brings her into contact with a lot of pet owners struggling to pay for suitable care for their pet animals with the rising cost of food, veterinary treatment and flea treatments.
ANIMAL Justice Party (AJP) candidate Elly Mousellis’s extended family includes a cockatiel, a gecko, 27 fish and a three-year-old Netherland Dwarf rabbit called Leona.
Elly adopted her cockatiel Petrie from the pet store where she works when it became apparent she had special needs due to past treatment. Her wing feathers had been severely chopped to prevent flight and she had sight and anxiety issues. Petrie is now thriving and her flight feathers have grown back in full.
Elly has always loved animals – she is also a wildlife rescuer – but has only recently become political about it.
Her work brings her into contact with a lot of pet owners struggling to pay for suitable care for their pet animals with the rising cost of food, veterinary treatment and flea treatments.
“A lot of the stuff we sell I wouldn’t necessarily recommend as the best option. If people are paying an arm and a leg for products I want to make sure at least they’re getting the best.
“I noticed a lot of animal welfare issues I had been oblivious about. Issues with what people were buying but also access to care for their animals – both the cost and having to drive a long way to get help.”
“I noticed a lot of animal welfare issues I had been oblivious about. Issues with what people were buying but also access to care for their animals – both the cost and having to drive a long way to get help.”
| The first AJP candidate to run in the seat of Bass, she was motivated to stand by the party’s “Veticare” policy, which seeks to provide subsidised veterinary care for those that need it, as well as public vet clinics. “When I heard about that I decided to dive in. I’ve got no idea what will happen but I want to shift the conversation towards building a kinder and fairer Victoria for animals, people and our planet.” | Top issues for Bass 1. Publicly fund vet care. “Veticare will ease the cost of living for so many struggling families and improve the lives of many vulnerable companion animals.” 2. End recreational duck shooting 3. End jumps racing |
The other factor was moving from the hustle and bustle of the city to Wonthaggi and a more rural outlook. “We’re seeing a lot of development in this area and I would hate to see it end up like an urban jungle.”
She has experience of just that. Growing up, she lived in rural NSW where she would see hundreds of kangaroos in the vicinity. By the time she left it was all housing estates and the kangaroos were gone.
“Where do those animals go?”
She is strongly supportive of the campaign to end sand mining in the Western Port Woodlands. “I was really shocked when I learned that sand mining is destroying habitat for native animals. It takes such a long time for the native trees to return, for the hollows to form.
“We need to start thinking of alternatives to sand, like using recycled plastic to build roads.”
Which brings us to climate change. She says we have to start thinking longer term, for our kids and our kids’ kids, as well as for all the animals that share our planet.
“We’ve seen the post-apocalyptic movies where nothing is left. We don’t want to do anything that disrupts the delicate balance of the planet. We can already see the impact of industry after just 100 years.”
Elly says that, as for many young people, there was a period of reflection and depression as she came to terms with climate change, and the actions she had to take in her own life. This is when she became vegan, among other things.
“It’s definitely not all doom and gloom. Once you’ve moved past the initial shock and made the decisions you need to make to play your part, you start to feel so much better.”
She has experience of just that. Growing up, she lived in rural NSW where she would see hundreds of kangaroos in the vicinity. By the time she left it was all housing estates and the kangaroos were gone.
“Where do those animals go?”
She is strongly supportive of the campaign to end sand mining in the Western Port Woodlands. “I was really shocked when I learned that sand mining is destroying habitat for native animals. It takes such a long time for the native trees to return, for the hollows to form.
“We need to start thinking of alternatives to sand, like using recycled plastic to build roads.”
Which brings us to climate change. She says we have to start thinking longer term, for our kids and our kids’ kids, as well as for all the animals that share our planet.
“We’ve seen the post-apocalyptic movies where nothing is left. We don’t want to do anything that disrupts the delicate balance of the planet. We can already see the impact of industry after just 100 years.”
Elly says that, as for many young people, there was a period of reflection and depression as she came to terms with climate change, and the actions she had to take in her own life. This is when she became vegan, among other things.
“It’s definitely not all doom and gloom. Once you’ve moved past the initial shock and made the decisions you need to make to play your part, you start to feel so much better.”