Please ask to end Knox's 24-hr cat curfew, in the 2025-2029 Domestic Animal Management Plan. We are advised to make submissions both in writing, by Email or Post, as well as the Online survey, by 13th April, 2025.
The survey has set answers - only question 22 allows comment.
In Writing: email: damplan@knox.vic.gov.au or post your submission to:
Domestic Animal Management Plan. Community Laws
Knox City Council
Reply Paid 70243, Wantirna South 3152
In person: At the annual Dogs' Party: 'Pets in the Park' - Sunday 6 April, 10am - 4pm, Knox Park, Knoxfield (Pet registrations pay for this non-inclusive Dogs' Party where cats are not safe, not seen, not heard.)
Survey online registration: https://haveyoursay.knox.vic.gov.au/ Needs an email address, any username (3 letter minimum), and password, whatever birthyear, and a Knox suburb (Bayswater, Boronia, Ferntree Gully, Upper Ferntree Gully, Knoxfield, Wantirna, Wantirna South, Rowville, Scoresby, Lysterfield, The Basin). (If there is a glitch in accepting suburb, answer lower questions, create, and re-enter.) Can 'Prefer not to answer' the personal data questions.
Survey questions have set answers. You can skip by pressing 'Next'.
Page 22 allows your own words: 'Do you have any further comments or suggestions on how we can improve the management of cats and dogs in Knox?'
Please ask to End the Knox 24-hr cat curfew. Some reasons:
24-hr curfews fail to save wildlife, place rescuers at high suicide risk, cost all residents ten times more than a Community Cat Program.
Knox Council borrowings are $90million+ - why make more expense with 24-hr curfew - which is a proven failure in nearby Casey Council and Yarra Ranges Council.
Removes equality with Knox dog-owners, makes cats illegal to be seen on streets - not visible, arises hate-speech, and cruelty acts, divides neighbours, and Knox said they will hide the identity of a cat complainant - further disadvantaging cat-carers.
Knox dogs have an off-leash Order for over 300 parks, reserves and sports fields. Pet registrations pay for the annual dogs' party 'Pets in the Park' and Knox's three extra dog parks. Even the RSPCA 'does not recommend' walking a cat on a leash. Registered cats receive no benefit.
Curfew targets renters, the elderly and the disabled for high fines. 87percent of Knox's impounded cats are homeless - without a carer to contain them. (90percent across Victoria). Curfews make more homeless cats.
Knox already has a court-record of killing Mytzle the cat in a Knox trap.
Removes health and wellbeing for residents and cats - placing both carer and cat under great stress, also the higher risk of FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease) which can be life-threatening.
Why does Knox have a 24-hr curfew, acting against scientific evidence?
Please ask for a Knox Community Cat Program. This 'One Welfare' approach optimises the well-being of people, animals and their environment. Community Cat Programs reduce the number of stray cats in pounds and shelters, and free up more resources to care for and re-home dogs. https://petwelfare.org.au/community-cat-programs
Knox survey questions - complete online: https://haveyoursay.knox.vic.gov.au/dogs-and-cats
(Clicking 'Next' skips unrequired questions)
Pages 1. You and your pet(s)
2. Do you own any of the following? Select all that apply Required
One or more dogs One or more cats Neither
3. Are your dogs desexed?
Yes No Some of them Don't know
4. Are your dogs microchipped?
Yes No Some of them Don't know
5. Are your dogs registered with Council?
Yes No Some of them Don't know
6. Are your cats desexed?
Yes No Some of them Don't know
7. Are your cats microchipped?
Yes No Some of them Don't know
8. Are your cats registered with Council?
Yes No Some of them Don't know
9. To help us understand your connection to dogs and cats in Knox, can you tell us if you are a member of any of these groups or categories? Select all that apply. Required
I live / own property in Knox
I work / own a business in Knox
I visit parks and reserves in Knox
Member of a wildlife or environmental group in Knox
Member of a sports club in Knox
Veterinarian or vet nurse
Animal advocacy/rescue group
Dog club
Registered cat or dog breeder
Dog / cat business operator (animal behaviourist/trainer/walker)
Registered Domestic Animal Business operator
Member of an applicable organisation (e.g. Dogs VIC, ANCats)
Other (please specify)
10. Your experience of dogs, cats and their owners in Knox
The next few questions ask about your experience of dogs and cats in the Knox community. These questions help us understand if our current requirements are working and if we need to look at making any changes.
11. How would you describe your everyday experience of dogs and their owners in the community?
All are doing the right thing Most are doing the right thing Some are doing the right thing Only a few are doing the right thing None are doing the right thing
12. In the last year, how often have you seen any of these dog related problems in Knox? Required
Knox currently allows dogs to be off-leash but under control of its owner in most public parks and recreation reserves.
Dog poo left on the ground
Dogs wandering loose or without an owner
Dog not under control of its owner in off-leash areas
Dog not on leash in on-leash area
Dog off-leash in playgrounds
Dog barking / causing a nuisance
Dog annoying / intimidating other dogs
Dog annoying / intimidating other people
Dog chasing / attacking wildlife
Every day Every week Every month Every 2 - 5 months Every 6 - 12 months Never
13. What are the main places you see these problems? Select up to 3. Required
Neighbourhood footpaths Walking tracks/shared paths Parks and reserves Playgrounds Sportsgrounds Fenced dog parks Other (please specify)
14. In the last year, how often have you seen any of these cat related problems in Knox? Required
Knox currently requires cat owners to contain cats on their property at all times. Cats can leave their property in a cat carrier or be walked on a leash.
Cats entering or causing a nuisance on your property (eg cats digging, toileting)
Cats roaming outside their own property
Cats that appear unowned (strays)
Cats fighting or making loud noises
Cats in sensitive environmental areas or reserves
Cats preying on wildlife
Every day Every week Every month Every 2 - 5 months Every 6 - 12 months Never
15. Off leash areas and dog parks
Knox currently allows dogs to be off-leash but under control of its owner in most public parks and recreation reserves. Knox has two fenced off-leash dog parks: Knox Park Reserve, Knoxfield and Emerson Place Reserve, Rowville. In addition, a new fenced dog park at Wantirna Reserve is due to commence construction in 2025.
16. How often do you use fenced off-leash dog parks in Knox? Required Every day Every week Every month Every 2 - 5 months. Every 6 - 12 months Never
17. Do you agree with any of these statements? Select all that apply.
Fenced off-leash dog parks give me piece of mind. (Knox's misspelling of 'peace of mind'. Could give Knox 'a piece of your mind'?)
There should be more fenced off-leash dog parks
I prefer larger, open off-leash areas over fenced dog parks
I feel unsafe in fenced off-leash dog parks
18. Priorities for Council services
Council provides many services to support responsible pet ownership in Knox.
19. How important are the following services for the community?
Respond to reports of nuisance dogs/cats
Investigate dog attacks
Patrols of Council's parks and reserves
Reunite stray dogs/cats with owners
Education on responsible pet ownership
Cat trap hire for residents
Discounted dog/cat desexing for pensioners
Checking dog/cat registrations
Annual Pets in the Park event
Investigating animal cruelty matters
Investigating non-compliant dog/cat breeders
Very important Important Neutral Not very important Not important at all
20. Have you had any interaction with Council's Community Laws team in the last 12 months regarding dogs or cats?
Yes No Don't know
21. About you
22. Do you have any further comments or suggestions on how we can improve the management of cats and dogs in Knox?
(This is the only question where you can write your own answer) Please write in your own words, your experience is valuable. Please include scientific evidence links. Some suggestions to start:
End Knox 24-hr cat curfew. (Be clear - Knox counted night curfew-supporters as being in support of 24-hrs).
Save costs by implementing a Community Cat Program. Scientific evidence from The Australian Pet Welfare Foundation shows that cat curfews 'mandated containment' costs all residents ten times more, fails to save wildlife, rises stray populations and kittens, and rises the suicide-risk in shelter-workers higher than for Australian police and firefighters.
87percent of Knox's impounded cats are homeless - without owners to 'contain' them, without owners to convict fines upon. Curfews are costly and ineffective. Knox Council borrowings are $90million+ - why make more expense with 24-hr curfew - which is a proven failure in nearby Casey Council and Yarra Ranges Council.
Knox dogs have an off-leash Order for over 300 parks, reserves and sports fields. As well as three extra dog parks paid for by pet registrations.
Registered cats receive nothing in Knox - no cat parks, no parties in the park, no visibility. Residents registered for if a cat got lost - not for lifetime lockdown, and hurting health and wellbeing. Even the RSPCA 'does not recommend' walking a cat on a leash.
24-hr curfew hurts renters, carers, and health and wellbeing - including placing indoor cats at greater risk of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease - which can be fatal.
False names of 'feral' and 'pest' imperil more animal lives, and prevent potential 'pets' and healthy communities. Ask Council to stop calling Knox cats 'feral'. There are no 'feral' cats in Knox. https://petwelfare.org.au/position-statements/cat-definitions
Felines, and females, need equality with canines, and males, and being safe to be seen on streets and in communities. The 24-hr cat curfew enables hate-speech, and hides cruelty acts.
Please ask for a Knox Community Cat Program. Community Cat Programs: Emeritus Professor Jacquie Rand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQbK3R36Xjg https://petwelfare.org.au/community-cat-programs This 'One Welfare' approach optimises the well-being of people, animals and their environment. Community Cat Programs reduce the number of stray cats in pounds and shelters and free up more resources to care for and rehome dogs.
Banyule saved $1million over eight years. 'Impacts of a Local Government Funded Free Cat Sterilization Program for Owned and Semi-owned Cats': https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/11/1615
From forthcoming MDPI peer-reviewed science: 'Urban Cat Management in Australia - Evidence-based Strategies for Success': 'Cat-related calls to Banyule Council decreased in the target area by 51% and citywide by 36%. Savings associated with reduced cat-related calls to council, and the reduction in time spent by AMOs addressing complaints, estimated at A$290 per call, was approximately A$137,170 over the 8 years of the program. Further savings to council emanated from reduced costs associated with charges from the contracted shelter (A$303,490). The total estimated savings over eight years were A$440,660. The cost to council for sterilizations and microchipping amounted to A$77,490 for the 8 years.
Similar or greater decreases in cat-related calls to councils in NSW and Queensland over 2 to three years were reported following implementation of similar programs [26,33].
Flow-on effects of these programs include significant benefits to the contracted shelter, due to reduced cat intake. Given the estimated cost for each admitted cat of at least A$400 and in some cases over A$1000 for housing, sterilization, microchipping, and miscellaneous veterinary care, it is estimated that the program in the city of Banyule saved the shelter contracted (CPS) approximately A$619,942 over the eight years based on a cost of $400/cat, less income paid by Banyule per cat ($80/cat until 2017/18 and $150/cat from 2018/2019). Over the eight years of the program, total savings to the local government and the contracted shelter were estimated to be closer to A$1 million'.
‘Australian shelters and pounds kill 50,000 mostly healthy cats and kittens in a year. There’s a way to prevent this pointless killing’: https://theconversation.com/australian-shelters-and-pounds-kill-50-000-mostly-healthy-cats-and-kittens-in-a-year-theres-a-way-to-prevent-this-pointless-killing-201947 MDPI Animals: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/11/1771
Australian Pet Welfare Foundation submission to NSW Inquiry 2025: https://petwelfare.org.au/government-submissions/new-south-wales
There are also more science article links here: https://www.change.org/p/knox-advocats and here: https://petwelfare.org.au/publications
23. Where did you find out about this engagement? Required
Information in your pet registration letter Council eNewsletter Council social media
Signage and posters Have Your Say email Have Your Say website At KnoxFest / Pets in the Park From a friend / family member Council website
24. Year of Birth Required. (allows years from 1900 - 2019)
25. How do you describe your gender? Required
Man Woman Non-binary Prefer not to answer I use a different term (Please specify)
26. Suburb Required
(Knox suburbs are: Bayswater, Boronia, Ferntree Gully, Upper Ferntree Gully, Knoxfield, Wantirna, Wantirna South, Rowville, Scoresby, Lysterfield, The Basin)
27. Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin? Required
No Yes AboriginalYes, Torres Strait IslanderYes, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander I'm unsure. Prefer not to answer
28. Do you speak a language other than English at home? Required
No - English Prefer not to answer Yes - other language (please specify)
29. Do you identify as part of the LGBTQI+ community? (i.e lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or gender diverse, intersex, queer or questioning) Required
Yes No Prefer not to answer
30. Privacy Statement
31. Review & Submit. Please review your answers below and submit your responses on confirmation.
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Thank you all cat-carers! Photo is of neighbour's cat who visits my 17-year-old cat, the only cat-friend he gets to see - Knox has criminalised social cats.