Nicole Seymour, the Councillor who pushed for the 24-hr Cat Curfew without consultation, is now running a survey on their latest unconsulted decision to change bin-collection to fortnightly.  There is one blank-space question on waste.  Please air your views.  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedKm_IVqC6kIabHuDrmCApo8I10YR50-fXzwiMmsGfV5RIFA/viewform 

Suggestions:  What about Councillors wasting our money? The 24-hr cat curfew costs Councils six times more and farms kittens to kill - it has failed in Casey and Yarra Ranges.  Knox Councillors made a decision to kill wildlife and more kittens.  Australian Pet Welfare Foundation:  https://petwelfare.org.au/saving-live/

An AdvoCat reminds: Consider the impact fortnightly rubbish collection will have on the health of residents forced to have litter tray ‘cat waste’ sitting in a bin for two weeks, from your unconsulted push for 24-hr cat curfew.

Knox's 24-hr Order methods will kill more wildlife, as well as kittens. Try Kindness to cat-owners, instead of Knox's unconsulted cruelty.

Honest people consult, Dishonest people do things in the dark.  

Community Cat Programs vs Knox Kitten Killing - save $ & lives  Evidence from the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation shows that the trapping, impoundment, killing model is producing and harvesting more kittens to kill.  24-hr curfews cost Councils much more, and do not achieve their aims.  Trapping and killing is shown to increase numbers.  Vets leave the profession, some suicide, having to kill so many kittens fighting for life.

Banyule Council found the trapping, impounding model cost $397,500, as opposed to Community Cat Program's targeted intensive de-sexing cost of $60,000 - begun in 2013.  Banyule’s impound figures for the 2019/2020 financial year were: 152 impounded, 98 rehomed, 24 euthanased, 30 reclaimed.  Contrast this to 2010-2011, with 1,004 cats impounded and 578 killed - 541 cats over 8 weeks old and 463 kittens under 8 weeks old.  The Community Cat Program lowered killing from 58% to 16% and cost six times less. 

Please watch Australian Pet Welfare Foundation’s Jacquie Rand's video (scroll down)  https://petwelfare.org.au/saving-live/  De-sexing needs to be targeted, intensive and monitored, neutering and returning the cats to their home-site.  This decreases population, decreases shelter intake, complaints, killing, impact upon staff and costs. Jacquie says a ‘scattergun’ free desexing ‘voucher’ approach does not work.  Studies show CCP is good for dogs too, decreasing their intake into shelters.  Community attitudes and mental health improve.

Yarra Ranges 24-hr cat curfew has risen impoundments, complaints and killing.  ‘In summary, in the City of Yarra Ranges, in the 3rd year after mandating 24/7 cat containment, cat-related complaints, increased by 143%, impoundments increased by 68%, and euthanasia increased by 18% (human population only increased 2%).’

Casey Council ‘In summary, in the City of Casey, 20 years after introducing 24/7 cat containment, the number of cats impounded was still 296% higher than baseline (from 264 cats in 1998 to 1,047 cats in 2019/2020), which was more than double the rate of the human population increase.’ APWF

Banyule changed to the Community Cat Program spurred by a kitten (photo in previous Update): ‘This kitten was found in a building site wall and although it was a healthy and friendly kitten, we knew the pound was full and it would be euthanased as soon as we got it there. …my co-worker and I sat in the carpark in front of the pound and called everyone we knew in our phone books to see if someone would take the kitten to save it.  There was no one for this kitten and unfortunately, as it was a pre-weaned kitten too young to be rehomed, it was taken into the pound and killed.  We knew that things had to change.  The scenario with this kitten was an everyday occurrence throughout the kitten season, and we were a cat killing taxi service again.’  Jenny Cotterell, Banyule Animal Management Officer of 22 years

Try kindness, not cruelty.  24-hr cat curfew cost Councils and rate-payers more and worsen ‘nuisance’. Trapping and killing costs much more.  Conscienceless laws show no conscience, and no commitment to community.  

Victorians, please sign our two e-petitions to Parliament for Consultation. Please share links.

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

Photo is of Pixie, recently found and adopted by Michelle Lehane