WE NEED YOUR HELP ONE MORE TIME!
HELP THE CATS & RESCUERS IN MARIBYRNONG – TAKE 5-10 mins TO COMPLETE A SURVEY / EMAIL BY SUNDAY 30th JUNE!
Maribyrnong Council are asking for your feedback on options for cat containment. It is noted that the first question maybe skewed by cat haters without specific concerns nor recommendations. It may be fairly straight forward to reference this petition and leverage information provided below on key concerns & recommendations :)
There are just 3 survey questions. Refer https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/cat-curfew for more information.
STEP 1. Provided below are suggestions for your consideration – please start with your own experiences and views, and tailor suggested concerns if you find these relevant.
STEP 2. PLEASE respond by SUNDAY using either
- the online questionnaire OR
- email AnimalManagement@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au (easier to use and you keep a copy for records)
STEP 3. PLEASE consider attaching the link to the petition in an email or the questionnaire.
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EMAIL SUGGESTED CONCERNS & RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO TAILOR:
I DO NOT SUPPORT THE FIRST SURVEY QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN SIMPLIFIED TO ANY AND ALL ISSUES WITH ROAMING CATS
The first survey question attributes issues to the cats while it is cat owners and other residents whose issues are not identified and need to be addressed (e.g. root causes and specific responses).
There is also no grading of the issues in this survey question, therefore, for trivial issues the survey outcome will be skewed to the YES response.
Potentially cat haters, without experiencing any specific issues, will also respond YES.
It is recommended the council team use the complaints system for analysing issues.
I DO NOT SUPPORT A CAT CURFEW IN MARIBYRNONG
Curfews unfairly impact those on low incomes.
Also “it leads to increased cat nuisance complaints, increased cat impoundments, increased cat and kitten euthanasia, increased costs and enforcement difficulties for local governments, increased mental health damage to veterinary staff and community residents caused by euthanasing healthy cats and kittens and no reduction in the overall number of wandering cats” Australian Pet Welfare Foundation.
Any cat containment obligations will negatively impact recently abandoned cats, or cats who are semi owned or unowned, and obviously not contained.
Quite often Good Samaritans in the community are feeding the cats, and community cat rescuers voluntarily assist in taking in, desexing etc to rehome cats, while not burdening the council pound systems and finances.
Curfews / containment will imply that roaming cats are illegal, and therefore be open to an increased number of acts of cruelty from the community.
It is recommended that no curfews nor containment rules are implemented without first addressing the specific issues, eg conservation fencing for wildlife, fauna crossings to help native animals.
FURTHER CAT MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
It is recommended that evidence-based research of successful free desexing programs be referenced which show these provide better value for money, and return on investment, in reducing the number of cats, the number of roaming cats, abandoned and stray cats (semi owned or unowned) and impacts to wildlife. Refer: APWF; Vic Banyule Council; NSW Liverpool Council; and NSW Weddin, Parramatta, Campbelltown & Hornsby councils; and RSPCA NSW.
Please refer to the Love Rescue Collaborate attachment (3 x JPEGs) which includes an upgrade to the petition provided to the Mayor and Councillors and the council petition email address “Maribyrnong: promote cat enclosures & DESEX! DESEX!! DESEX!!!”, with reference source links. This version 2 includes the recent Banyule council research on their hugely successful and ground breaking free desexing program, and Weddin and Parramatta highlights of the NSW Keeping Cats Safe At Home, RSPCA 2023 Impact Report.
MANY THANKS to you & your support!! The Council team, Mayor and Councillors need to hear from you!
Deborah