A 'One Welfare' approach saves lives - animal, human, and communities. Community Cat Programs are scientifically-proven, effective, at low cost.
In 2021 six Knox Councillors pushed through 24-hr cat curfew, which costs all residents six times more. Scientific evidence shows that cat curfews fail to save wildlife, kill more kittens, and place rescuers at suicide-risk higher than Australian firefighters.
Cat curfews target renters, the elderly, and disabled for high fines, dividing neighbours, and hurting families. Curfews are expensive failures, costing evermore lives.
Victoria Councils' candidates: https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024-local-council-elections/knox-city-council/nominations Click the red 'Expand all' and 'See questionnaire response', for their statements, and contact details.
2024's good news: Three of the main Knox councillors who pushed loudly for 24-hr cat lockdown, are not standing: Nicole Seymour, Jude Dwight, and Marzia Timmers-Leitch. Seymour and Timmers-Leitch, are residential landlords. Dwight, on many issues, has also refused consultation.
Knox Council is still in great debt, despite selling many properties and cutting services.
Standing again for Knox in 2024 are:
Yvonne Allred Previously a Knox biodiversity and bushland management officer, Allred pushed for 24-hr cat curfew. Also denying community consultation. Allred's stated 'research' is 'no other domesticated animal is permitted to roam. Don't let 'em roam, if you love 'em'. 24-hr cat curfew kills more wildlife and kittens. Allred also voted to destroy Ferny Creek Trail's Dawson Street entrance - killing canopy trees, native birds, and placing schoolchildren at high risk of traffic-accidents, again denying due community consultation. Ferny Creek Trail's fenceline was removed from the plans - so residents did not know that Council's Permit was for a tobacco-franchise to turn the 'wildlife corridor' into a private carpark. Long-time residents also lost their loved home. When questioned, Allred wrote that this is her 'legacy' - refusing accountability.
The two nurses who did not make evidence-based decision:
Susan Laukens claims that 24-hr cat curfew is 'well-researched, best practice report by peak bodies to protect fauna'. Citing 'RSPCA' - the highest pound-contract-killer of cats. Laukens has also stated that Knox councillors are 'Proud Community Leaders' that 'the community are lucky to have making decisions for them'.
Meagan Baker claims 'The cat curfew is the most effective way to protect cats and native wildlife'. And 'Roaming cats cause nuisance for neighbours by spraying, fighting, unwanted litters, digging in gardens on other people's properties.' Baker has a habit of not answering community questions, and forwarding emails addressed only to her, without permission. Some residents writing to Baker, received only a dismissive reply from Seymour. When Upper Ferntree Gully residents objections for Ferny Creek Trail were hidden, preventing community consultation, Baker did not respond. (https://www.gofundme.com/f/SaveDandenongFoothills
Two Knox candidates helped Knox AdvoCats try to get consultation: Peter Lockwood and Tony Holland.
Check out your local candidates campaigns. Which would make evidence-based decisions? Which would vote on personal opinion? Does community consultion matter? Or 'leadership' power? Which have community response-ability? Which are social-media popularity hounds?
Community Cat Programs - Save Cats, Save Wildlife, Save Carers.
Please share the scientific evidence on Community Cat Programs - links are here: https://www.change.org/p/knox-advocats
Cat curfews are costly failures, dealing more deaths.
'One Welfare' - for All Lives.
Freedom to Walk Without Fear.
Thank you!