War on Cats - no differentiation between Feral and Family Cats.
Dan Andrews Government ‘announced $1.3 million committed to developing a 10-year cat management strategy for the state of Victoria, including education campaigns and grants to encourage responsible cat ownership and cat containment. $0.613 million has been allocated over two years for Victoria’s first-ever pet census. Victoria’s new animal welfare legislation $1.75m over three years has been allocated in the 2022-2023 budget to progress Victoria’s new animal welfare legislation, the Animal Care and Protection Act. This Act replaces the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.’ Mary-Anne Thomas, Minister for Agriculture.
Not good news as Agriculture Victoria is working with the RSPCA. Changing the Act from Preventing Cruelty to ordering ‘Protection’. The Victorian Election is in November.
Who will help our cats? Knox DAMP used unverifiable surveys. All our letters to Dan Andrews were forwarded to Shaun Leane who sent the same dismissive form-letter to all.
We need to know Matthew Guy’s stance. We are waiting on information from the Shadow Minister for Agriculture: The Hon. Peter Walsh. The Hon. Kim Wells is making enquiries for AdvoCats.
Caging Cats is Cruel. Remember that Knox Council quoted both the RSPCA and Agriculture Victoria opinions, not evidence, to make the 24-hr cat curfew Order. Declaring mandates of ‘welfare’ and ‘protection’.
Protection Acts to Watch Over can bring division and inequality. Will this new Act divide species? Separate native and introduced? Removing terminology against cruelty can inherently change attitudes and lessen equality. Changing the Act from ‘Prevention of Cruelty’ to ‘Care and Protection’ along with ‘10-year cat management’ ‘cat containment’. Protectionism is very different to preventing cruelty across all species. Protectionism can Order, restrict, power-over, be unkind to certain kinds.
Victorian Government taking control over our pets with this proposed pet census? Could this lead to Statewide cruel rules with its re-‘education campaigns’ of ‘cat owners’ like in Knox, of ‘the right pet’? Victoria - a nanny-State, placing cat-owners into ‘Care’? Minorities deserve equality, not dictates of ‘the right thing to do’ overpowering lives. Cats, and owners, need respect. We need our voices on this plan. Not decreed ‘targeted discussion with key groups including councils, animal shelters, rescue groups and public land managers.’
Important to keep all your original correspondence to-and-from Council on 24-hrs. It shows that there was no consultation on 24-hrs, Council did not inform residents, before vote on June 28th 2021. The few, if any, replies reveal unresponsive, unhelpful non-answers, that Knox has not followed its own policies. (If time, please compile in a document.)
Cruelty to Cats crosses all parties. Animal Justice Party’s Geelong Office indicated supporting lifetime lockdowns for cats. The Greens in ACT advertising 24-hr cat curfew, with $1600 fines, and a one-off registration fee for cats https://greens.org.au/act/news/protecting-cats-and-wildlife-heart-new-act-cat-plan Dan’s plan partners with the highest killer of cats in Australia, just like Knox Council sending out RSPCA booklets.
Where are politicians with heart and action for those who cannot speak? A former Knox Mayor calls this the ‘conscienceless cat curfew’. If conscience is God’s presence in man, how can we have faith in those who make conscienceless laws? Councillors not consulting, removing equality, diversity, injuring mental health, homes, families and living well.
Victorians, we need to know all political plans for cats and our lives
Media reports (no detailed legislation is yet available):
https://www.catprotection.com.au/a-welcome-boost-for-victorian-cats/
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/backing-our-farmers-and-regional-communities
Please help get Victorian signatures for Parliament:
Legislative Council: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/council/petitions/electronic-petitions/view-e-petitions/details/12/446
Legislative Assembly: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/assembly/petitions/e-petitions/view-sign-e-petitions/details/55/108
Please spread the word. Posters: https://rmit.academia.edu/AshlleyMorganShae