Animals 24/7, NSW grants, Knox, Boroondara, Stonnington

Animals 24/7 USA reports on Australian science on cats, Tweety & Sylvester Down Under: two new studies exonerate cats: https://www.animals24-7.org/2026/09/27/tweety-sylvester-down-under-two-new-studies-exonerate-cats

NSW Government Companion Animal Welfare and Rehoming Grant Program has $1.5 million available for rescuers and rehoming organisations.  Applications close 5pm on 9th of October  https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/companion-animal-welfare-and-rehoming-grant-round-2-fy26/27  Funding can help with desexing, microchipping, vaccinations, training, rehabilitation, upgrades to animal care facilities, community education, and support for animals during emergencies.

Bella and Charlie Are Not the Problem—It’s Us: The Real Causes of Wildlife Rescue in NSW  https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/16/14/2174

Knox Council Local Law changes: I was the only person who spoke up for animals in a gallery of just 5.  Not one councillor cared.  They praised Local Laws changes removing rules on drones flying, of rising fines 10 times higher for tree removal, that kids can camp in backyards without fines.  Not one councillor spoke up against reducing animals on large properties, 4000m2+, to 2 dogs, and 2 cats.  Not one councillor spoke up against Knox mandating fencing, or cage-enclosures, for all pets.  Only people-power can change councils, and people are not turning-up, or speaking-up.

Boroondara Council: Six councillors voted for a night cat curfew: Councillors John Friend-Pereira, Wes Gault, Michael Nolan, Mal Osborne-Smith.  Also Shima Ibuki and Sophie Torney - who are running for Victoria State election in Hawthorn and Kew, in November 2026.
Boroondara recommended 'No Curfew'.   Officers interviewed councils with curfews - including Knox, finding they were all failing.  Boroondara did not include a Community Cat Program as an option.  Then Greens and Teals Councillors (by one vote of 11 councillors) voted for a cat curfew, a $30,000-$50,000 study on cat predation due in 2029 (after the next council election), and bells on cats.  Minutes 27th July 2026: 8.1 'Proposal to introduce a cat curfew'  https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/media/121881/download?inline  page 35  Agenda report 13 July 2026 pages 3-38  https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/media/120796/download?inline

Stonnington Council’s Save-a-Dog-Scheme No-Kill pound was only kept by one vote in 2025, when four of nine councillors voted to contract the high-killing Lost Dogs Home.  Councillors Sally Davis, Steve Stefanopoulos, Jami Klisaris and Meghan Hopper want a killing-pound.
Scanning through Stonnington's 2026 Animal Management reports.
Why is a report on the Stonnington future pound plans ‘Confidential’ - not released to the public? 
Why does Stonnington plan to re-tender its pound at a later date?
Why is Stonnington considering running a pound with neighbouring councils which have high-killing of dogs and cats?
Why would Stonnington partner with councils that have made cat-curfews - which science shows raise stray-cats, raise euthanasia and stress to vets and rescuers, and raise costs over ten-times higher to councils?
Stonnington has two good things - a no-kill shelter pound - and that the DAMP 26-29 plans a 'small scale pilot Community Cat Program'.
Stonnington officers separate the word 'shelter' - from the Stonnington ‘pound’ - is this so that Stonnington can isolate Save-a-Dog-Scheme as a ‘shelter’ - to then run a separate killing ‘pound’?

Cat Facts Media: https://www.instagram.com/catfactsmediaaustralia/

Photo: Harry the Birman is now a 19-year-old senior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF7phIAxezQ