News, and Bullying within Knox Council
Australian Animal Welfare Strategy survey closes Friday 13th November 2026 5pm https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/australian-animal-welfare-strategy-aaws
Professor Jacquie Rand interviewed on The Pulse: https://www.facebook.com/reel/3838797319596212 Government directives are to spread media of cats on wildlife to give 'social licence' for their cat-killing containment laws.
Knox Council charges
- 24-hr cat curfew fines of up to $577+
- Animal Foster Carer application fee $72
- Registration of short-stay foster animals $14 each
- Excess Animal Permit applied if over 2 dogs/2cats $308
- Reclaim fees on registered cats $250-$325
- Reclaim fees on unregistered cats $342 - $418, plus if over 8 days $47 daily added
- Animal Surrender Fee $146 per animal (fee is illegal so Knox has added ‘voluntary’ fee’)
- Mandated fences, or enclosures, for all pets
- Reduced pet-numbers on properties 4000square metres plus, to just 2 dogs, 2 cats
- Knox dogs have an Order they can run off-lead in over 300parks, reserves and sportgrounds, plus four dog-play-parks - while cats are criminals if seen.
Knox Budget 2026 states an exceptionally large number of cat surrenders.
Knox Councillor Peter Lockwood has resigned, citing bullying from the eight other councillors - a 'nest of vipers' in media.
Lockwood's Motion 187 for a Community Cat Program desexing, was altered to give more to Knox dogs, nothing for cats. Knox report on feasibility of CCP cat-desexing delayed to December 2026 council meeting. ‘To gauge interest’ Knox offered only 20 cats $50 desexing if they registered for $500 fines. Only free desexing reaches the cats and people in most need. Casey Council spends $1.83million annually on its cat curfew and Knox is copying its failed expense. Knox Council Monday 26 October Meeting, press item 5.5 below for Cr Lockwood’s last report: https://webcast.knox.vic.gov.au/archive/video26-1026.php#placeholder Three days later, on Thursday he resigned: 'Any longer and my mental health would have crashed,' he said.
In case you missed it in The Age/Sydney Morning Herald front-page feature ‘The Feline Kind’ Sun 4th Oct, 2026. ’For an increasing number of men, it’s raining more cats than dogs’. Online title: Green flags’: What’s behind the growing obsession with men and cats?
https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/green-flags-what-s-behind-the-growing-obsession-with-men-and-cats-20261003-p60z84.html https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/green-flags-what-s-behind-the-growing-obsession-with-men-and-cats-20261003-p60z84.html Mainstream media recognising that cat-dads are countering toxic-masculinity. ‘Mark Ruffalo, Dave Franco and Macklemore (alongside the late Sam Neill and Hollywood veteran Anthony Hopkins) are among a number of Hollywood men declaring their love for their feline companions.’
History ‘research unearths …young soldiers in war zones cuddling with cats or caring for feline shipmates (at sea, cats were seen as “workers”, kept to catch vermin). “These really deep affectionate bonds were formed between men and cats”
Photo: Harry - my 19-year-old senior hero