’How we treat cats shows the health of a nation’  Independent Australia, May 1, 2026 https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/how-we-treat-cats-shows-the-health-of-a-nation,20985 

Please ask questions on the Knox Budget 2026-2027 Animal Surrender fee of $146 per animal, which results in more homeless kittens and cats on the street. (Budget 2026 p122)   Please send questions to Strategy and Transformation team  ourknox@knox.vic.gov.au   9298 8000  https://haveyoursay.knox.vic.gov.au/ShapeOurPriorities 

Knox Budget allocates $34,650,000 ($34million) to ‘Embracing connection, inclusion and diversity’ (p46)  
Registered cat-owners receive nothing from Knox.

Please also give final feedback on Knox Local Law Review by midnight June 14, 2026.
Knox wants to mandate fencing for all homes with a cat or dog, or cage enclosures.  
To make homes in disrepair illegal - forcing expensive repairs.  
To reduce animal numbers on properties 4000sq metres and over - to only two cats and two dogs - animals will lose their homes, and possibly lives.  
To make a clause preventing residents from council meetings and buildings if council staff consider ‘insulting’ or ‘offensive’.
Survey here: https://haveyoursay.knox.vic.gov.au/LocalLawReview/draft-local-law-review-survey  Email: LocalLawReview@knox.vic.gov.au  Phone: 9298 8000  Write to: Community Laws Team - Local Law Review  Knox City Council  Reply Paid 70243   Wantirna South 3152

Knox keeps worsening homeless, undesexed, cats with Knox 24-hr cat curfew, and $146 animal surrender fee.  This high fee means that a cat with 4 kittens are likely to end up as homeless strays.  A Senior Animal Management Officer tells us that other Councils do not make this fee: ‘when they don’t want more cats on the street.’  

Knox Domestic Animal Management Plan told us that Knox plans on “engaging trainers to run free or low cost dog training”, for “low-cost dog desexing”, extra “bin locations”, doggy “waste bags”, and more “proactive dog programs”.   Knox says they have "no money" for cat desexing.
Only targeted, intensive, accessible, free cat-desexing is effective: Community Cat Programs - would cost less than Knox pays to impound cats.   General desexing does not work as most strays are unowned, homeless.   'To gauge interest’ in general desexing, Knox VetProject desexing for 20 cats will be $50, with registration and microchipping on June 30, 2026 at  Boronia Library, bookings: https://www.knox.vic.gov.au/whats-happening/news/snip-chip-your-cat-day-knox  

Council Watch petition against Knox cutting rate-discount to aged and disability pensioners: https://www.councilwatch.com.au/knox 

Victoria, Council Watch petition to keep rate-capping: (Councils want to raise rates). https://www.councilwatch.com.au/el/ratecaps

‘Why more veterinarians are walking away from the careers they loved. The professionals who dedicate their lives to caring for the health of our pets are burning out.’ Sunday Age May 10, 2026 and also in Sydney Morning Herald  https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/ben-had-wanted-to-be-a-vet-since-he-was-10-this-is-why-he-had-to-walk-away-20260420-p5zpgx.html

City of Boroondara - Cat containment curfew, AdvoCats submission:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_msNGTT9qmzjg3qYx3aiOeWg_MiiHO3FxF8j7knhHys/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0
Australian Pet Welfare Foundation submission: https://framerusercontent.com/assets/7s7AktM98UsOAZZU9voNqEW4.pdf

Thank you Dean from Council Watch - a gay man who rebuts Council-spin: 𝐏𝐮𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐰 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲  “True inclusion is not a ceremony.” Council Watch Knox April May posts:
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1006246205072507&set=a.298663202497481
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1003674891996305&set=a.298663202497481
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1002810165416111&set=a.298663202497481
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=996374129393048&set=a.298663202497481 
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=987352696961858&set=a.298663209164147

In April Knox Meeting Lisa tried to ask a public question about Knox’s animal surrender fee. Knox Mayor called Lisa - Laura twice, and did not let Lisa speak.  In February Meeting Knox hid facts from the public and deleted from the Minutes.  Knox Council April Meeting: https://webcast.knox.vic.gov.au/archive/video26-0427.php  below press 7. Public Question Time

Photo: Sydney Rally for Save Community Cats on May 3, 2026.  Thank you to FosterJen2072 on Facebook and Instagram.  Jenny Fisher is a Sydney lawyer and foster cat carer.  https://www.instagram.com/p/DYEwgtIhw9R/