Please speak up now for silent felines. Scientific evidence shows that cat curfews are very expensive, and fail to save wildlife. 90percent of Victoria's impounded cats are homeless, and curfews, 'mandated containment', mean greater killing, and greater costs to all residents.
Please respond to Council surveys. Please ask for a Community Cat Program, instead of a cat curfew. Councils make a night curfew, then say 'it is not working', and then make a 24-hour curfew. Councils have counted those in support of a night-curfew - as being in support of 24-hours. Council consultations are often open online worldwide. (Petitions without addresses are rejected.) Please include some of the science articles on cat management (listed below this update).
Please ask for Community Cat Programs - scientific cat management used effectively across the USA, in Europe and some places in Australia. 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
Glen Eira Cat Curfew survey is open until 29th of June. Glen Eira states it is 'Following the lead from other councils', and claiming 'safe' and 'liveable,' to lock-in felines, and remove visibility and health. It is a short survey - please take the few minutes. Online: https://www.haveyoursaygleneira.com.au/cat-curfew Phone: Bruce or Freya: 9524 3333. Email: engagement@gleneira.vic.gov.au Why make a cat curfew which raises the cost-of-living for all residents? Curfews make more homeless, stray cats, raise expensive euthanasia, overload shelters, and place rescuers at suicide-risk higher than Australian police and firefighters endure.
Yarra Domestic Animal Management Plan consult closes 16th of June. Please share the science: https://yoursayyarra.com.au/petplanning
Tell Banyule by 30th of June: https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/DAMPlan?_ga=2.29585151.1961883121.1749000962-1835956083.1749000962
During the eight years Banyule ran a Community Cat Program, Banyule saved a $1million dollars. After Banyule's manager retired, Banyule employed animal officers without knowledge, ruining the program, and making a cat curfew.
Alert Banyule to the evidence that works. Please require education for Animal Management Officers in Community Cat Programs - to save costs, and animal lives.
Every time you raise your voice, and show up, you make lives count. 150 people turning up to Stonnington Council Meeting, and hundreds more contacting Council, saved Save-a-Dog Scheme's 'No Kill' shelter. Thank you!
Second Chance Animal Rescue needs to raise $200,000 by November to stay open. Don't Let This Be The End: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FFwXu1HgEg https://www.facebook.com/SecondChanceAnimalRescueInc/posts/pfbid02xCX8a9UixXc5KPtLL2Yr7sZmbd5k6EkvwEzxZNjUK8JS671AmzeRKCqNT95V7TiEl
Conversely, RSPCA Victoria has begun a campaign 'Rethink Roaming' - Reference is to the Invasive Species Council's faulty data. A campaign designed to raise euthanasia paid for by Councils - with costs passed on to residents? There is no reference to scientific cat management. No reference to the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation.
All responsible owners keep-in their cats at night. 90percent of council impounds, have no homes, and curfews make less homes. It is not irresponsible owners, it is irresponsible councils. Cat curfews rise hate-speech, and threats of cruelty acts. Can felines, and females, walk without fear on streets, have respect, visibility and outdoor public space, equal to canines, and males?
Community Cat Programs save many lives, and save costs, and are science-proven cat management.
Please add science links in your comments to Councils:
Community Cat Programs: https://petwelfare.org.au/community-cat-programs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQbK3R36Xjg
Urban Cat Management in Australia - Evidence-based Strategies for Success: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/8/1083 Community Cat Program saved Banyule $1million over eight years.
Rethinking Urban Cat Management—Limitations and Unintended Consequences of Traditional Cat Management: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/1005
Stray and Owner-Relinquished Cats in Australia—Estimation of Numbers Entering Municipal Pounds, Shelters and Rescue Groups and Their Outcomes: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/11/1771
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
24-hr cat curfews have failed in Casey and Yarra Ranges Councils. Download - Key Issues Mandated Cat Containment: https://petwelfare.org.au/position-statements/cat-containment
Cats and Wildlife. Flawed Data in Australian media. Download - Issues to Consider About Cats and Urban Wildlife https://petwelfare.org.au/position-statements/domestic-cats
Domestic urban cats are not 'feral': https://petwelfare.org.au/position-statements/cat-definitions No 'feral' cats enter Australian Council pounds. Calling a 'pest' prevents being seen as a potential 'pet', and outlaws care.
The Conversation: ‘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
Cost Savings $1million: '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'.
from Urban Cat Management in Australia - Evidence-based Strategies for Success.
more Australian peer-reviewed science publications in MDPI Animals:
The Impact of Lethal, Enforcement-Centred Cat Management on Human Wellbeing: Exploring Lived Experiences of Cat Carers Affected by Cat Culling at the Port of Newcastle https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/2/271
fbclid=IwAR2GgLTAULJoaBhVuVsrPIG59S5dV54OhoPQexarznCH57fjfzWuojhw3xs
A Purr-Suasive Case for Sterilization: How Sterilizing Working Cats Supports Dairy Farmers’ Wellbeing, Improves Animal Welfare, and Benefits the Environment https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/766
Feline Farmhands: The Value of Working Cats to Australian Dairy Farmers—A Case for Tax Deductibility https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/800#:~:text=Our%20findings%20demonstrate%20that%20dairy,reducing%20cats'%20impact%20on%20wildlife The Conversation 'Working dogs and horses have tax-deductible upkeep. But Australia’s thousands of working cats go unrecognised' https://theconversation.com/working-dogs-and-horses-have-tax-deductible-upkeep-but-australias-thousands-of-working-cats-go-unrecognised-248675
Photo is of a young Knox cat which has sheltered in a chicken-coop for five months, since a kitten. Please contact knoxadvocats@gmail.com if you can give a life-home to a desexed, scaredy-cat.