Please Revoke 24-hour Cat Curfews - Knox AdvoCats
Please Revoke 24-hour Cat Curfews - Knox AdvoCats
The issue
Community Cat Programs save kittens, rescuers, and wildlife, at low cost. Scientific evidence from the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation shows that cat curfews fail to save wildlife, overload shelters, and raise the suicide-risk for rescuers higher than for Australian police and firefighters.
Cat curfews are expensive failures. 90percent of Victoria's impounded cats are homeless, with no owner to charge. Casey Council spends est $1.83million annually on 24/7 curfew (link below)
Community Cat Programs reduce the number of stray cats in pounds and shelters, and free up more resources to care for and re-home dogs. CCP's 'One Welfare' approach optimises the well-being of people, animals and their environment. By engaging those already feeding and caring for unowned cats and providing council resources, these programs turn carers into empowered owners, reducing impounds, reducing euthanasia, reducing complaints, and associated costs.
Council rejects change petitions for not having addresses. So please share the scientific evidence, and respond directly to local government consultations - make your voice count.
Community Cat Programs are effective cat management.
Save Cats, Save Wildlife, Save Carers (and save costs)
Resources, please share:
Community Cat Programs: https://petwelfare.org.au/community-cat-programs videos: Emeritus Professor Jacquie Rand at 10th National Getting 2 Zero Summit 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZT_x70gWCg 2019 G2Z: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQbK3R36Xjg More information, or to help the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation: https://petwelfare.org.au/ https://www.facebook.com/PetWelfareFoundation/
Urban Cat Management in Australia - Evidence-based Strategies for Success: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/8/1083 Community Cat Program saved Banyule $1million over eight years.
Rethinking Urban Cat Management—Limitations and Unintended Consequences of Traditional Cat Management: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/1005
24-hr cat curfews have failed in Victoria's Casey, Yarra Ranges and Mornington Peninsula. Download - Key Issues Mandated Cat Containment: https://petwelfare.org.au/position-statements/cat-containment
The Conversation: ‘Australian shelters and pounds kill 50,000 mostly healthy cats and kittens in a year. There’s a way to prevent this pointless killing’: https://theconversation.com/australian-shelters-and-pounds-kill-50-000-mostly-healthy-cats-and-kittens-in-a-year-theres-a-way-to-prevent-this-pointless-killing-201947
ABC News 'University of Queensland study finds cats more likely to be euthanased for being stray than to die from disease' 12 April 2025: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-12/stray-cat-management-trapping-desexing/105165002
Stray and Owner-Relinquished Cats in Australia—Estimation of Numbers Entering Municipal Pounds, Shelters and Rescue Groups and Their Outcomes: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/11/1771
Impacts of a Local Government Funded Free Cat Sterilization Program for Owned and Semi-owned Cats: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/11/1615
Domestic urban cats are not 'feral': Data Cat Definitions in Australia: https://petwelfare.org.au/position-statements/cat-definitions No 'feral' cats enter Australian Council pounds. Calling urban domestic cats 'feral', 'wild' and 'pest' imperils lives, and prevents being seen as a potential 'pet', and outlaws care.
Cats and Wildlife. Flawed Data in Australian media. Download - Issues to Consider About Cats and Urban Wildlife https://petwelfare.org.au/position-statements/domestic-cats
The myth of domestic cats & urban wildlife, Dr Kate Dutton-Regester: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axyf5Mcs-xk
The Conversation: Extinctions of Australian mammals have long been blamed on foxes and cats – but where’s the evidence? https://theconversation.com/extinctions-of-australian-mammals-have-long-been-blamed-on-foxes-and-cats-but-wheres-the-evidence-253542?utm_medium=article_clipboard_share&utm_source=theconversation.com
BioScience: Review of evidence that foxes and cats cause extinctions of Australia's endemic mammals https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biaf046/8109923
Cost Savings: 'Casey Council is spending ...approximately around $1.83 million annually, on a system that traps, impounds, and kills cats without solving the problem. ...This cycle not only drains ratepayer funds but also inflicts severe mental health impacts on veterinarians, shelter staff, and the Council’s own animal management officers. Casey has enforced mandated 24/7 cat containment for over 27 years, yet ... Cats impounded were 680% higher than baseline (from 264 cats in 1998 to 2,058 cats in 2024/25), more than double the rate of human population growth'. https://framerusercontent.com/assets/ck3VVcMEtfkCZKKjaRlbwJgMOQ.pdf
Banyule Council: 'Over the eight years of the program, total savings to the local government and the contracted shelter were estimated to be closer to A$1 million. The cost to council for sterilizations and microchipping amounted to A$77,490 for the 8 years. Similar or greater decreases in cat-related calls to councils in NSW and Queensland over 2 to three years were reported following implementation of similar programs. Urban Cat Management in Australia - Evidence-based Strategies for Success. Jennifer Cotterell, Senior Animal Management Officer for 22 years at Banyule City Council.
Results without punishment: Reducing euthanasia through community assistance Jennifer Cotterell 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g67I4JhvbTY
more Australian peer-reviewed science publications:
The Impact of Lethal, Enforcement-Centred Cat Management on Human Wellbeing: Exploring Lived Experiences of Cat Carers Affected by Cat Culling at the Port of Newcastle https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/2/271?fbclid=IwAR2GgLTAULJoaBhVuVsrPIG59S5dV54OhoPQexarznCH57fjfzWuojhw3xs
A Purr-Suasive Case for Sterilization: How Sterilizing Working Cats Supports Dairy Farmers’ Wellbeing, Improves Animal Welfare, and Benefits the Environment https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/766
Feline Farmhands: The Value of Working Cats to Australian Dairy Farmers—A Case for Tax Deductibility https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/800#:~:text=Our%20findings%20demonstrate%20that%20dairy,reducing%20cats'%20impact%20on%20wildlife
The Conversation, 'Working dogs and horses have tax-deductible upkeep. But Australia’s thousands of working cats go unrecognised' https://theconversation.com/working-dogs-and-horses-have-tax-deductible-upkeep-but-australias-thousands-of-working-cats-go-unrecognised-248675
Poison laid for rats is killing many native animals. 'Ratsak is losing its bite: How to get rid of the rats in your ranks' https://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/ratsak-is-losing-its-bite-how-to-get-rid-of-rats-in-your-ranks-20250604-p5m4sm.html The Age & Sydney Morning Herald, June 10, 2025. Pest Management Science May 30, 2025: https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ps.8936 Daily Mail UK, June 11, 2025: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14801193/rat-poison-resistant-sydney-perth-melbourne.html 'Second-generation rodenticides are so potent they are banned in the United States, Canada and the European Union.' 'The poison makes it way up the food chain and kills other animals in a huge risk to Australia's biodiversity.'
Australia's Political War on Cats: Branding the 'homeless', the 'lost,' and young kittens, as 'feral' and 'wild'. Australian governments slaughter more cats, more horses, more native dingoes. Australian politicians believe it is 'electorally popular' to kill more animals with cat curfews, spreading the private Invasive Species Council's false figures, and misinformation. Watch out for weasel words of 'safe', 'protect', 'educate'.
2025: Victoria State Government Cat Management plan to kill impounded cats after four days: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-20/victorian-cat-management-strategy-fears-likely-to-kill-more-cats/104921730 The Victorian Cat Management Strategy leaves out Key Stakeholders of cat-rescue groups and the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation. VicGov promotes expensive, ineffective, statewide cat-containment as 'responsible', 'welfare'. Victoria's Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of Cats claims: 6. 'Wild born kittens generally do not make good pets'. and brands homeless cats and young kittens as 'feral'. (Department of Agriculture 6 Dec 2023) Though feral cats do not live near people. Urban homeless cats are not feral.
2024 - 2025 Removing the Victorian Prevention of Cruelty to (all) Animals Act, the Minister, in May 2022, announced as part of ‘a 10-year state-wide cat-management strategy’. The new 'Animal Care and Protection Bill' recognises animal 'sentience', but then gives industries licence to hunt, maim and kill - with legal exemption. This Bill makes Community Cats illegal to live - by preventing Trap, Neuter, Return which has proven effective worldwide. Victoria's new Animal Care and Protection Act needs an exemption to save street cats and shelter-workers lives. We need Part 3 Division 2, 21 (1)(d): to make Exemption for Trap Neuter Return and Return to Field programs when run by trained/qualified authorised officers, or specialists in cat management. (The revised Animal Act was released for public consultation on the 15 of Dec 2023 - a time of year to hide intent and to lessen dissent.)
ACT’s new 'sentience' Animal Welfare Legislation Amendment Bill in 2019, preceded 2021's enactment of statewide lifetime cat curfew, with fines of $1600 if a cat steps past its property - enforcing greater cruelty upon cats and carers. Sentencing more cats to death.
The Victorian Cat Management Strategy survey was open worldwide, anonymous, able to be completed multiple times by a person using different browsers, or devices, without proof of declared pet ownership, and of Australian residency. Allowing hate-groups to target, manipulate and hide. Victoria left out Key Stakeholders of the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation and Cat Rescue Groups. 2023's Pet Census was also open-worldwide, and asked questions on only one species of pet - collecting skewed data.
Invasive Species Council, privately-funded, pushes cat curfews and the use of 'Felixer' robots, shooting 1080 poison, that torturously kills homeless cats, Wedge-tailed eagles, dingo pups, goannas, pet dogs, in great agony, and poisons habitat. ISP quotes Legge, Woinarski and spread much misinformation blame on cats. Branding suburban homeless cats as ‘feral’, Woinarski group’s Sarah Legge is continually quoted in The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. ISC claims ‘each domestic cat will kill around 75/100 animals per year.’ - Legge, Woinarski ANU. Local Councils re-quote these false figures, not recognising habitat loss from land-clearing, bushfires, overdevelopments etc. Former Greens Leader, Christine Milne, is an ambassador: https://invasives.org.au/our-team/christine-milne-ambassador/ Invasive Species Council receives funding 'ongoing significant support' from The lan Potter Foundation, the Australian Communities Foundation and its sub-funds, The Purves Environmental Foundation, the Mullum Trust, the Garry White Foundation, Melbourne Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, Paddy Pallin Foundation, and The Ross Trust. https://invasives.org.au/about-us/who-we-are/
2025: Victorian government to collar native dingoes following the Invasive Species Council proposal, against dingo welfare and First Nations lack of consultation. The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, April 2025: https://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/dingoes-to-be-collared-in-contentious-bid-to-protect-sheep-20250401-p5lo8v.html
2025 RSPCA Victoria's campaign 'Rethink Roaming' - Reference is to the Invasive Species Council's faulty data. There is no reference to scientific cat management.
2023 Australian Government declares War On Cats, homeless and lost: https://www.tanyaplibersek.com/media/media-releases/government-declares-war-on-feral-cats/ Woinarski and Legge again: https://theconversation.com/10-year-feral-cat-plan-brings-us-a-step-closer-to-properly-protecting-endangered-wildlife-212976 Sunday Age 17 Sept 2023 p22 https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/claw-and-order-are-cats-villains-or-victims-in-the-war-on-feral-animals-20230911-p5e3oe.html ABC 7 Aug 2023 https://www.abc.net.au/religion/colonialism-underpin-australian-culture-of-animal-cruelty/102697128
2021 The Greens ACT 24-hr Statewide Cat Curfew with $1600 fines on cat-carers: https://greens.org.au/act/news/protecting-cats-and-wildlife-heart-new-act-cat-plan Nationally Greens continue campaigns for cat curfews - which also kill more wildlife.
2019: Scott Morrison and Greg Hunt, with John Woinarski, promising to kill two-million cats within a year. Animals 24/7, USA: https://www.animals24-7.org/2019/05/12/how-killing-cats-helps-to-keep-aussie-liberal-party-in-power/
In 2015 AusGov knew that trapping, killing, curfews - fail: https://www.animals24-7.org/2015/04/11/culling-cats-increases-the-feral-population-australian-study-finds/
Animals 24/7 USA, reports on Australian politicians' cruelty to cats, and misinformation to the public: 2023: https://www.animals24-7.org/2023/07/02/cat-haters-down-under-set-up-rare-birds-for-an-attack-of-h5n1-avian-flu/
In Community Cat Programs, de-sexing needs to be targeted, intensive and monitored, neutering and returning the cats to their home-site. This decreases population, decreases shelter intake, complaints, killing, impact upon staff and costs. A ‘scattergun’ free desexing approach does not work.
90percent of Victoria's impounded cats are homeless - have no homes to be in, many are kittens - killed with no chance. 24-hr curfews cause more cat deaths, more wildlife deaths, rises homeless strays and makes finding homes harder.
Mandated containment rises costly trapping and killing, farms kittens to kill, rises stray cat populations, unequalises neighbours; and targets the poorest, renters, elderly, and the disabled, with high fines. Fanning hate-speech towards felines, and females. There are already laws if you do not want a cat on your property.
Community Cat Programs, the effective solution, do not work with curfews as Community Cats are homeless. With curfews, both 12 and 24hr, the public are encouraged to trap, and this leads to greater impoundments, greater killing, less homes, and much greater cost to all residents.
Safe Cat, Safe Wildlife - is a 'successful' misinformation campaign 'making a killing' to profit private orgs, that Councils cite.
Community Cat Programs - Save Cats Save Wildlife
When a homeless person’s animal is taken into Council Pounds it cannot be returned without a fixed address - Victoria, Australia.
2025 NSW State Inquiry recognises the ineffectiveness of mandated containment/curfews. Management of cat populations in New South Wales report 18th August 2025: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lcdocs/inquiries/3011/Animal%20Welfare%20Committee%20-%20Report%20no.%202%20-%20Management%20of%20cat%20populations%20in%20New%20South%20Wales.pdf Government response recognises that 'desexing is the most effective way of reducing stray cat populations' in 'targeted accessible desexing programs'
Hon Emma Hurst MLC: 'Cat containment laws are simply cat killing laws ...Now don't get fooled. There are campaign organizations that will continue to push for cat containment laws. Now, these organizations and these groups that continue to push for these laws are the people who hate cats, let's be absolutely honest about it. If they were genuinely about reducing the number of cats that are in society, then they would be supporting the solutions where there's evidence that they work. ...Instead, they're pushing for cat killing through cat containment laws, where there's NO evidence that that's even going to work to protect wildlife.... Now, the Wildlife card is continuing to be used, and we know from the evidence that we heard in this inquiry, we heard from major organizations, even WIRES, saying that actually, cats are not the biggest threat to wildlife. The biggest threats that we have to wildlife is deforestation, climate change, overdevelopment… and we know that the government needs to really take action in those spaces if they genuinely want to protect our wildlife.' at Sydney Rally for Community Cats, https://savecommunitycats.org/sydney-rally-23-aug-2025/#emma-hurst-animal-justice-party Emma Hurst: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNrRy_8vz20/?hl=en&img_index=4
'Deforestation doom: 2025 worst year in more than a decade for federally-approved bulldozing of bush' 14 Jan 2026 https://www.acf.org.au/news/deforestation-doom-2025-worst-year-in-more-than-a-decade-for-federally-approved-bulldozing-of-the-bush
Victorian Councils
It is not irresponsible owners, it is irresponsible councils - making cat curfews which kill more wildlife - not less. Carers keep-in their cats at night. 90percent of council impounds, have no owners to contain them, no owners to convict, and curfews make more homelessness.
Casey '24/7... for 27 years, ...• Cats impounded were 680% higher than baseline (from 264 cats in 1998 to 2,058 cats in 2024/25), more than double the rate of human population growth • nuisance complaints increased from 349 in 2000 to 519 in 2024/25. Casey spends close to $1,000 per cat pet impounded cat, approximately around $1.83 million annually. Each complaint costs $290 in officer and vehicle time, and with only 5% of cats reclaimed, most cats go on to incur a further $600 in impoundment costs. ...drains ratepayer funds ...inflicts severe mental health impacts on veterinarians, shelter staff, and the Council’s own animal management officers.' Sept 2025 APWF
City of Melbourne On April 1 2025, City of Melbourne made a 14-hr cat curfew - 6pm - 8am (not 8pm - 6am misreported by news and AI). Melbourne's Agenda 6.1 9 published, falsely, that City of Stonnington had introduced a cat curfew. Councillor pushing 24-hrs said 'Merri-bek has 24-hr containment'. Untrue, Merri-bek Council rejected curfew/mandated containment, to focus on unowned cats. Determined to copycat curfews, the Mayor joked of a 'dog's breakfast', a 'cat-as-trophe.' '5456 cats' '56 cat complaints'. Vote was 5-to-5, then the Mayor used his extra vote to make the curfew. City of Melbourne has 86percent of impounded, unowned, cats, and 30-36percent are killed every year by the contracted Lost Dogs Home. The Melbourne Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation funds 'significant ongoing support' of the private Invasive Species Council. CoM video: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/meeting/future-melbourne-committee-01-april-2025 Agenda and Resolution: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/meeting/future-melbourne-committee-01-april-2025 AdvoCats April submission has been hidden from CoM's Engagement Summary. Yet Melbourne promoted Friends of Royal Park's curfew calls. AdvoCats re-submitted to the second-round in August 2025: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QI_0w4GDwamQuEWNCsUiE-mGqxRxRQCpD1jxH6PXb5o APWF submission: https://petwelfare.org.au/government-submissions/victoria Download: https://framerusercontent.com/assets/dn1gguTfXYDt4EFRXbZJq2Y7gY.pdf
Bayside City Council unanimously rejected 'the proposed 24-hr cat containment restrictions'. 17 Dec 2024 Minutes page 21: https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-12/minutes_-_17_december_2024_-_council.pdf
City of Greater Geelong voted to 'rescind a 24-hr cat containment order' 29 May 2024. 'due to the financial burden on cat owners and the lack of detail on how the policy would affect cat owners living in rental accommodation...particularly in a cost-of-living crisis.' https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/pets/news/item/8dc7ff2d0729a96.aspx https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/pets/news/item/8dc7ff2d0729a96.aspx
Banyule Council Community Cat Program ran from 2013-2021, saving a million dollars - decreasing cat intake: by 66percent, euthanasia: 82percent, complaints: 51percent in target-area, 36percent citywide. Also increasing reclaimed cats by 10percent. After Jennifer Cotterell retired, Banyule replacements then made a curfew, making barriers to access to free desexing, and tripling cat-impounds within 2 years.
‘This kitten was found in a building site wall and although it was a healthy and friendly kitten, we knew the pound was full and it would be euthanased as soon as we got it there. …my co-worker and I sat in the carpark in front of the pound and called everyone we knew in our phone books to see if someone would take the kitten to save it. There was no one for this kitten and unfortunately, as it was a pre-weaned kitten too young to be rehomed, it was taken into the pound and killed. We knew that things had to change. The scenario with this kitten was an everyday occurrence throughout the kitten season, and we were a cat killing taxi service again.’ Jennifer Cotterell
Yarra Ranges Council 24-hr cat curfew has risen impoundments, complaints and killing. ‘In summary, in the City of Yarra Ranges, in the 3rd year after mandating 24/7 cat containment, cat-related complaints, increased by 143%, impoundments increased by 68%, and euthanasia increased by 18% (human population only increased 2%).’ APWF
Knox Council 2026: Punish or partner? Knox residents raise concerns over DAMP Star Mail, March 3, 2026 https://rangestrader.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2026-03-03/punish-or-partner-knox-residents-raise-concerns-over-damp
2021 Knox 24-hour-cat-curfew Order, made without consultation on 24hrs. No statistics were produced. Knox did not follow Community Engagement Policy, or Municipal Health & Wellbeing Plan, kept meetings closed to the public, hid dissent and altered facts, while enacting Order. Knox used an unverifiable survey, anonymous, allowing multiple responses from a person, worldwide, of less than 0.7% (zeropointseven) percent response, without any advertising of considering 24hrs. Night curfew supporters were counted as 24-hrs. A false report's 'recommended 24 hrs', was enacted, without even considering a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Two Knox councillors, residential landlords, pushed loudly for 24-hrs.
Scroll down for Knox AdvoCats case to the Victorian Ombudsman which altered fact, figure, and date, for Knox Council - preventing lawfully-required community consultation, without impartiality or accuracy, and has hidden the case of 143 applicants from public report.
Knox AdvoCats submission to DAMP 2025-2029: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OiHgUSkRKzGQjZ32HpAkjaZAWYAhz0cMqhrh88Hy5gw/edit?usp=sharing Australian Pet Welfare Foundation's submission to Knox (DAMP 25-29): Download: https://framerusercontent.com/assets/hM43OHLmPjaY8EeYyYeOqq0qQg.pdf
Knox Pound Animal Aid Managers reported, and Knox refuses to act: Herald Sun: 'Starved, neglected, euthanised: Shock claims at Vic animal refuge' 6.7.2025 https://www.change.org/p/knox-advocats/u/33716235 Star Mail: https://ferntreegully.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2025-07-15/conflicting-views-in-regards-to-local-animal-welfare-organisation/ 15.7.2025 Yarra Ranges, ignoring report, renews pound contract 28/8/2025: https://upperyarra.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2025-08-28/yarra-ranges-council-endorses-two-motions-for-animal-pound-service
Mount Alexander Shire also had no consultation, and their Council voted for lifetime lockdown, but after public outcry quickly amended to sunset-to-sunrise.
Frankston residents won against 24-hours, and even got dogs their own beach.
Merri-Bek Council - Moggies of Merri-bek for Community Cat Programs website: https://www.moggiesofmerribek.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579912574496 On 13 Sept and 12 Nov 2025 Merri-bek councillors, quoting the Invasive Species Council's false figures, voted for a killing curfew. AdvoCats submission: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O5bQ346qsEkNIf5T9XQwyIfhR73baHx69WwPUj6_-sI/edit?tab=t.0
City of Greater Dandenong is in the worst quartile of Victorian councils killing cats. City of Greater Dandenong has killed 74percent of cats. 368 out of 495 intake. 90percent were not reclaimed. City of Greater Dandenong, used an unverifiable Survey Monkey survey. CGD hid Australian Pet Welfare Foundation evidence, and stated aiming for 24-hr curfew. Eden Foster, the CGD Mayor, was months later elected for Labor, Mulgrave, Victorian Parliament.
Stonnington Council does not have a cat curfew. However, on the 26th of May 2025, Council pushed to end its contract with 'no kill' Save-a-Dog Scheme. Stonnington Agenda was for the high-killing Lost Dogs Home. Agenda states: The Lost Dogs Home advised they recently changed the way they report euthanasia rates to exclude mandatory, non-negotiable euthanasia' - which makes reported figures appear lower. Why does Stonnington Council want doctored reporting of euthanasia? 150 residents attended the meeting, hundreds more sent emails and and messages to councillors - vote was 5 to 4 to extend Save-a-Dog for a year, and to have a taskforce evaluation by December 2025. The Lost Dogs Home was a 'Key Stakeholder' in City of Melbourne's curfew. Info on Stonnington vote: https://www.change.org/p/knox-advocats/u/33564821
Hume - no curfew - will councillors act on opinion when reviewed, or actual scientific evidence?
Hobsons Bay: Google: The implementation of a cat curfew has been considered by Council in recent years; however analysis of data for impounded cats in Hobsons Bay indicates that the wandering cat population is more a symptom of stray and ownerless cats, rather than for owned cats in domestic residences.
Animals Australia's legal challenge to Victoria Government killing native dingoes: The Age & The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 9th Dec 2023 page 7: https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/dingoes-face-being-wiped-out-in-victoria-a-legal-challenge-hopes-to-stop-their-extinction-20231205-p5ep4j.html
Western Australian government announced in July 2023 spending millions using Felixer 1080 poison to kill cats. 1080 is a cruel, and torturous death, and also kills many native animals. The 'Felixer' 1080 targets and kills dingo pups. In Victoria, Australia, 1080 is used on foxes, and Alpine dingoes, misdescribed as ‘wild dogs’ as not 100percent genetically pure blood, and it kills Wedge-tailed eagles, native marsupials and birds, and pet dogs. June 28th 2023 The Age & the Sydney Morning Herald https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/poison-shooting-robots-on-the-front-line-of-war-against-feral-cats-in-wa-20230628-p5dk4n.html
In 1972 the USA banned 1080 poison after it killed native animals and people. Ban 1080: https://www.ban1080.org.au WA spends $7.6million - killing our native animals, and poisoning our environment. In 2021 WA was declared too dangerous for dogs because of the use of 1080 poison: https://www.ban1080.org.au/press-releases/wildlife-department-declares-entire-state-too-dangerous-for-dogs-outdoors https://static1.squarespace.com/static/612ee136efc1241e1fcc567e/t/633e63255ee9a91da8f58564/1665033002834/1080+%E2%80%93+Characteristics+and+use+-+WA+Department+of+Agriculture+and+Food.pdf Ban 1080 in Australia: https://www.ban1080.org.au
Victoria, Australia, any Integrity ‘watchdogs’?
Knox Domestic Animal Management has been using unverifiable surveys, and falsifying data, to 'recommend 24-hrs' lifetime lockdown for cats. Knox DAMP surveys could be completed pretending that the respondent was a cat-owner, a dog-owner, had no pets, choosing different residential suburbs, completed anonymously, multiple times, by child or adult, and was open beyond Australia. Knox Council did not advertise anywhere, or inform residents, it was 'recommending' 24-hrs, before voting for it on 28th June 2021. Residents learnt from news reports. Complaints against 24-hrs were counted as 'support for a curfew'. Councillors voted not to consult the community on 24-hrs, by random-sample survey costing less than $10 per cat-owner.
143 Knox residents took our case to the Victorian Ombudsman -requesting consultation in adherence with the Local Government Act. The Victorian Ombudsman then altered fact, figure, and date, for Knox Council - preventing lawfully-required community consultation, without impartiality or accuracy. The Victorian Ombudsman case-manager did not allow us phone contact for three months while dealing directly with Knox, also denying our request for skilled representatives. Resident files were ignored. An Internal Review added further inaccuracy. The Victorian Ombudsman informed that all complainants in a group case would be counted exactly the same as 143 separate complaints. Knox AdvoCats 143 resident complainants are missing from the Victorian Ombudsman’s Annual Report, and from published media.
Knox AdvoCats case Outcome: https://www.academia.edu/79098963/Knox_AdvoCats_Victorian_Ombudsman_Outcomes Case: https://www.academia.edu/52471373/24_hr_Cat_Curfew_Knox_Council_Trajectory_and_Formal_Complaint Defects the Victorian Ombudsman requested, but then did not address: https:// www.academia.edu/71778676/Knox_Council_Defects_in_24_hr_cat_curfew_report https://www.academia.edu/75862401/Knox_Council_Defects_in_making_24_hr_cat_curfew_Local_Govt_Act
Knox told the Ombudsman they checked their figures with Newfocus and Melbourne University. However MelbUni and Newfocus only gave quotes for making a professional ‘random-sample’ survey that was never made. Council’s survey was not a random-sample, and cannot be verified. Victorian Ombudsman Outcome is the first time we hear of enactment date changed from 28th of June, to the 23rd of August, 2021 - and July complaints then claimed as 'feedback' 'consultation'.
28th of June 2021 vote for 24-hr-cat-curfew Order made without any community consultation. Knox Council did not inform of considering a 24-hr cat curfew. Residents hear of the Order via national news reports.
July 2021 After change.org call-outs, 3288 responded online to Knox's Dog and Cat survey for DAMP 2021-2025. Question 6 states: ‘Update’ ‘recently decided’ ‘Ahead of the cat curfew commencing’. Responses to question 6 are then claimed as ‘feedback’, to obscure the lack of consultation on the 24-hr Order. Council claims ‘support for a curfew’, includes those against 24-hrs, who support only a night curfew, and hides dissenting views.
23rd of August 2021 Stated as the actual date of the Order. Noted that the Order was made under the DAMP 2017-2021, which did not have provision for a 24-hr-cat-curfew.
28th February 2022 The DAMP 2021-2025, containing provision for the 24-hr-cat-curfew is passed.
Residents correspondence to-and-from Council shows that there was no consultation before Council voted on June 28th 2021. Knox Councillors have stated they are 'proud' 'community leaders' that we 'are lucky to have' 'making decisions for the community' when questioned on Knox's denial of community consultation.
Knox has cited 'welfare experts' without qualification, personal opinion, and contractors to Council - without evidence.
Conscience for Cats Save Cats, Save Wildlife Respect Felines
for Knox AdvoCats (also Andy Dixon's petition) https://www.change.org/p/knox-council-review-knox-council-s-plans-for-24hr-cat-curfew
Adverse Impact in an Order that does not ‘provide peace, order and good government’, does not ‘promote a safe physical and social environment, in which residents can enjoy a quality of life’, and ‘adversely affects the enjoyment of life or health, safety and welfare of people’.
No recognition of diversity: Knox Council claim that cats can be walked like dogs on a leash, though the RSPCA's 'does not recommend', is unsafe. Cats cannot be pulled, and vets state they need ‘jumping’ to keep healthy. Knox dogs have an off-leash Order for over 300 parks, reserves and sports fields. Cat needs are not considered.
Cruelty to Animals Cat-runs are cages. Permanent prison isolation and lifetime lockdown is cruel. This law acts as a surreptitious ban on cats.
Targeting the Marginalised, and Devaluation of Property Knox website states ‘We're real dog lovers in the city of Knox, with over 18,500 dogs registered with Council.’ High fines victimise the less-advantaged. Expensive prison cages ruin gardens and devalue properties. Residents did not choose to be made second-class citizens.
Knox crows about removing cat-owner residents right to identity and fair-defence: 'residents dealing with nuisance cat issues, no longer need to provide statements to the Council for cats caught in traps regarding the time of seizure, appear as a witness in Court, or have their addresses listed on ‘cat objection letters’ which are sent to owners of the nuisance cat which identify the complainant.' While Knox dog-owners keep all their rights. Knox hounds cat-owners with high fines, and removes Knox cat-owners legal fairness to fight in court, with Knox representing complainant. Agenda 8 Sept 2025 page 160 https://www.knox.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-09/2025-09-08-AgendaMidMonthMeeting.pdf
Overriding Renters Rights Renters fought for many years for the right to keep their pets, finally made law in 2020. Knox’s 24-hour-cat-curfew disenfranchises renters again - cat-owners lose their equality with dog-owners. Two deciding Councillors are Knox residential landlords, Two state 'biodiversity', yet voted to destroy a 'wildlife corridor', in the Dandenong Foothills.
Denial of Equal Rights Dogs have off-leash dog-parks, and over 300 parks, reserves and sports fields in Knox. Cats have no play parks. Cat regos pay for the Dogs' Party Pets in the Park which is not inclusive, or safe, for cats. Curfew Order hits with high fines, and jail-cats, for being a carer of a pet - being a cat.
How can dog and cat owners prevent their cat from going out the dog-door, or from following the children out? Forced to choose between their food-on-the-table or fur-family?
Pandemic Pets, Therapy, Companions, Mental-Health Cats are Essential Workers. My cat Harry would visit Inclusion Melbourne - welcomed by clients and staff. We stress seeing our cats suffer, as trapped window-watchers, unable to socialise, sun-bathe, and climb trees. Companion cats help avoid loneliness, prevent the contemplation of suicide, some are therapy cats to special-needs children, many aged residents, who can no longer walk dogs, now have cats.
Overdevelopments are decimating native wildlife and canopy trees.
Irresponsible Australian politicians. Curfews make more hate-speech, threats of violence, and cruelty acts towards felines and females.
'Inside the Sick Underworld of Cat Torture Rings: Torture videos are being sold and produced inside Australia'. 'Zoosadism... motivated to harm cats because they are commonly known as women's favourite animal. ...because the screams of a cat can sound like the screams of a woman There's also a demonstrated history of ring members committing real-life violence and it is typically against women.' 'UK animal crime investigator and retired senior detective Mark Randell pointed to the possibility of a link between the Sydney case and sexual abusers. Randell, who has over 40 years of investigative experience all over the world, (says) this would be his first line of inquiry. “When there are cats involved, I’d start by considering links to crimes of violence against women and sexual crimes,” says Randell.' News Corp Australia 9 August 2025, Warning: graphic: https://www.news.com.au/national/unthinkable-inside-the-sick-underworld-of-cat-torture-rings/news-story/f0c098dc7953ea6bcb612a683ed518bb
'Dingo vs. dog: Piper James death reignites Australian animal control debate' Animals 24/7 USA Jan 29th 2025 includes data of Australia's fatal & disfiguring attacks, 2005-2025
https://www.animals24-7.org/2026/01/29/dingo-vs-dog-piper-james-death-reignites-australian-animal-control-debate/
Free our Felines! Being born a cat does not make a criminal.
Australian rescuers are not getting help, donations are down, some forced to closure. The Age 21 August, 2025 'From gangster to pussycat: How Fat Tony and friends found their ninth life' https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/from-gangster-to-pussycat-how-fat-tony-and-friends-found-their-ninth-life-20250806-p5mkv2.html 9 Lives Project: https://www.the9livesproject.org/ Forever Friends: https://foreverfriends.supporterhub.net.au/donations/donation-page Save-Dog Scheme: https://saveadog.org.au/support/donate/
The Sydney Morning Herald Jan 2023: https://www.theage.com.au/national/nsw/pointless-killing-councils-labelled-cruel-amid-heated-debate-over-threat-cats-pose-to-native-wildlife-20221206-p5c487.html
Update on Victorian Government's 10-year cat plan: https://www.change.org/p/knox-advocats/u/30644944
AdvoCats letters in Boronia & The Basin Community News May 2022 page 4: https://bbcn.org.au/wp-content/uploads/MAY-2022_compressed.pdf
Knox AdvoCats on Facebook (not currently updated) https://www.facebook.com/Fighting4FelineFreedoms/
Legislative Council petition: https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/parliamentary-activity/hansard/hansard-details/HANSARD-974425065-19163#wysiwyg
Knox Council has a record of animal abuse, killing cat Mytzle in a trap: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/outer-east/cat-traps-that-led-to-mytzles-death-still-available-from-knox-council/news-story/a1b651d68ca6e97a2e3046ff2e3dd373
Knox dog Izzy's owner fought to the High Court and won Izzy’s life, which cost Knox $600,000, though Knox sent Izzy to Queensland. ***
https://www.smh.com.au/national/high-court-told-dog-on-death-row-did-not-receive-fair-hearing-20150414-1ml2ou.html
Knox Council is killing native birds and wildlife. During stage 4 lockdown, I walked, gaining 58 objections to save a 'wildlife corridor' next to a National Park. Knox Council stated only 47 objections - preventing community consultation. So I found hidden objections, including from Save the Dandenongs League, still no consult. We raised $5000 and an experienced environment representation. At VCAT court we found the fenceline had been removed on the plans, hiding from residents that the developer's carpark would be placed over Ferny Creek Trail. Knox's lawyer told many untruths. Stating that in Knox Council's future plans, residents 1940s homes will not exist, as Knox plans large office blocks instead of residents' vintage houses and small businesses. Council's own experts alerting to traffic danger were ignored, and the single 'disabled' carpark is not legal size for a wheelchair. The developer's building is sold world-wide as high-density residential/commercial and will operate 24-hours. No one has seen an internal layout - from a developer specialising in build and re-sale. In Melbourne's environmentally-sensitive Dandenong Foothills. Long-term residents in a restored railway home felt forced to sell-up. Two Knox councillors, claiming 'biodiversity' for curfew, also voted to kill Australian native birds, and habitat; one states is her 'legacy': https://www.gofundme.com/f/SaveDandenongFoothills
Knox Council Meeting Links: 28 June 2021 - Press 6.2 Cat Curfew Order Passing 24-hr law, without consultation on 24-hrs. http://webcast.knox.vic.gov.au/archive/video21-0628.php Agenda 28 June 2021 Cat Curfew Order pages 10-86 - for 'recommended' 24-hrs, without any evidence, or accuracy. Knox's unverifiable faulty survey was made in-house. https://www.knox.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-06/2021-06-28%20-%20Agenda%20Meeting%20Council.pdf Most Councillors lacked knowledge. 26th July 2021 Press 13 Motion 120 for place http://webcast.knox.vic.gov.au/archive/video21-0726.php 23 August 2021 Press 14.2 for exact place - Knox Councillors decide cat-owners are not worth $10 each for a 'random sample' survey of 1200 residents, denying consultation on 24-hrs, while enforcing cat registration payments, and fines, without any benefit for owners. http://webcast.knox.vic.gov.au/archive/video21-0823.php February 28th 2022 meeting http://webcast.knox.vic.gov.au/archive/video22-0228.php press 6.5 below Council states ratepayers will pay more for prosecution.
Breaches Councillors Code of Conduct https://www.knox.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-07/councillor-code-of-conduct.pdf
Local Government Act 2020 requires community engagement, public transparency, integrity and response-able use of position https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/20-009aa%20authorised_0.pdf
Victoria's highest contract-killers of cats: Lost Dogs Home and RSPCA. RSPCA Australia lobbies Councils for mandated ‘cat containment’ Knox Council paid RSPCA for webinars, booklets. The Lost Dogs Home has most pound contracts and 'advised they changed the way they report euthanasia rates' to appear lower to the public. 389 cats euthanised as 'Unsuitability for sale', were recategorized as 'Diseased, Injured, Unweaned/Orphaned and Behaviour' - Behaviour =being scared, trapped, caged. Stonnington Agenda 26 May 2025
Greater Western Sydney Giants players whole-club mission to save street-cats, including Greyboy, Papaya, Paw Paw, Pebbles, Pendles, Coco, Joey and Torti. 20 March 2024 https://www.afl.com.au/news/1090324/mission-im-puss-ible-the-club-wide-cat-rescue-at-giants-hq
Liverpool England, football fans calling out cat cruelty, protest banners, and an aeroplane trailing Cats Lives Matter! https://www.si.com/fannation/soccer/futbol/news/liverpool-fans-taunt-kurt-zouma-cats-lives-matter-banner
National Cat Awards, UK: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/65333855 https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/genevieve-is-deaf-her-hero-cat-zebby-helps-her-and-has-won-a-national-award/lhvxywz64
Brigitte Bardot Foundation is a core sponsor of the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation for community cat desexing. “Your country is sullied by the blood of millions of innocent animals,” (Brigitte) told a succession of Australian governments, “so please, don’t add cats to this morbid record.” www.animals24-7.org/2025/12/31/brigitte-bardot-91-movie-star-for-20-years-animal-advocate-for-52-years/ https://petwelfare.org.au/
Cyprus moves to ban euthanasia of stray dogs and cats under new law. February 26, 2026 https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/local/cyprus-ban-euthanasia-stray-dogs-cats-new-law
Household cat could hold the key to understanding breast cancer Wellcome Sanger Institute 19 Feb 2026 https://www.sanger.ac.uk/news_item/household-cat-could-hold-the-key-to-understanding-breast-cancer/ Science 19 Feb 2026 Vol 391, Issue 6787 pp. 793-799
USA PAW: https://www.facebook.com/USAPAW
Please Share the Evidence.
Where is any Conscience - any commitment to community?
Stop Cat Lifetime Lockdowns! Caging Cats Is Cruel.
Jazzcat6 - video poems: https://www.youtube.com/@jazzcat6
Harry the Birman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF7phIAxezQ
Thank you AdvoCats!
Ashlley Morgan - Shae http://ashlleymorganshae.com/htdocs/Events.html
1,947
The issue
Community Cat Programs save kittens, rescuers, and wildlife, at low cost. Scientific evidence from the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation shows that cat curfews fail to save wildlife, overload shelters, and raise the suicide-risk for rescuers higher than for Australian police and firefighters.
Cat curfews are expensive failures. 90percent of Victoria's impounded cats are homeless, with no owner to charge. Casey Council spends est $1.83million annually on 24/7 curfew (link below)
Community Cat Programs reduce the number of stray cats in pounds and shelters, and free up more resources to care for and re-home dogs. CCP's 'One Welfare' approach optimises the well-being of people, animals and their environment. By engaging those already feeding and caring for unowned cats and providing council resources, these programs turn carers into empowered owners, reducing impounds, reducing euthanasia, reducing complaints, and associated costs.
Council rejects change petitions for not having addresses. So please share the scientific evidence, and respond directly to local government consultations - make your voice count.
Community Cat Programs are effective cat management.
Save Cats, Save Wildlife, Save Carers (and save costs)
Resources, please share:
Community Cat Programs: https://petwelfare.org.au/community-cat-programs videos: Emeritus Professor Jacquie Rand at 10th National Getting 2 Zero Summit 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZT_x70gWCg 2019 G2Z: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQbK3R36Xjg More information, or to help the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation: https://petwelfare.org.au/ https://www.facebook.com/PetWelfareFoundation/
Urban Cat Management in Australia - Evidence-based Strategies for Success: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/8/1083 Community Cat Program saved Banyule $1million over eight years.
Rethinking Urban Cat Management—Limitations and Unintended Consequences of Traditional Cat Management: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/1005
24-hr cat curfews have failed in Victoria's Casey, Yarra Ranges and Mornington Peninsula. Download - Key Issues Mandated Cat Containment: https://petwelfare.org.au/position-statements/cat-containment
The Conversation: ‘Australian shelters and pounds kill 50,000 mostly healthy cats and kittens in a year. There’s a way to prevent this pointless killing’: https://theconversation.com/australian-shelters-and-pounds-kill-50-000-mostly-healthy-cats-and-kittens-in-a-year-theres-a-way-to-prevent-this-pointless-killing-201947
ABC News 'University of Queensland study finds cats more likely to be euthanased for being stray than to die from disease' 12 April 2025: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-12/stray-cat-management-trapping-desexing/105165002
Stray and Owner-Relinquished Cats in Australia—Estimation of Numbers Entering Municipal Pounds, Shelters and Rescue Groups and Their Outcomes: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/11/1771
Impacts of a Local Government Funded Free Cat Sterilization Program for Owned and Semi-owned Cats: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/11/1615
Domestic urban cats are not 'feral': Data Cat Definitions in Australia: https://petwelfare.org.au/position-statements/cat-definitions No 'feral' cats enter Australian Council pounds. Calling urban domestic cats 'feral', 'wild' and 'pest' imperils lives, and prevents being seen as a potential 'pet', and outlaws care.
Cats and Wildlife. Flawed Data in Australian media. Download - Issues to Consider About Cats and Urban Wildlife https://petwelfare.org.au/position-statements/domestic-cats
The myth of domestic cats & urban wildlife, Dr Kate Dutton-Regester: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axyf5Mcs-xk
The Conversation: Extinctions of Australian mammals have long been blamed on foxes and cats – but where’s the evidence? https://theconversation.com/extinctions-of-australian-mammals-have-long-been-blamed-on-foxes-and-cats-but-wheres-the-evidence-253542?utm_medium=article_clipboard_share&utm_source=theconversation.com
BioScience: Review of evidence that foxes and cats cause extinctions of Australia's endemic mammals https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biaf046/8109923
Cost Savings: 'Casey Council is spending ...approximately around $1.83 million annually, on a system that traps, impounds, and kills cats without solving the problem. ...This cycle not only drains ratepayer funds but also inflicts severe mental health impacts on veterinarians, shelter staff, and the Council’s own animal management officers. Casey has enforced mandated 24/7 cat containment for over 27 years, yet ... Cats impounded were 680% higher than baseline (from 264 cats in 1998 to 2,058 cats in 2024/25), more than double the rate of human population growth'. https://framerusercontent.com/assets/ck3VVcMEtfkCZKKjaRlbwJgMOQ.pdf
Banyule Council: 'Over the eight years of the program, total savings to the local government and the contracted shelter were estimated to be closer to A$1 million. The cost to council for sterilizations and microchipping amounted to A$77,490 for the 8 years. Similar or greater decreases in cat-related calls to councils in NSW and Queensland over 2 to three years were reported following implementation of similar programs. Urban Cat Management in Australia - Evidence-based Strategies for Success. Jennifer Cotterell, Senior Animal Management Officer for 22 years at Banyule City Council.
Results without punishment: Reducing euthanasia through community assistance Jennifer Cotterell 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g67I4JhvbTY
more Australian peer-reviewed science publications:
The Impact of Lethal, Enforcement-Centred Cat Management on Human Wellbeing: Exploring Lived Experiences of Cat Carers Affected by Cat Culling at the Port of Newcastle https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/2/271?fbclid=IwAR2GgLTAULJoaBhVuVsrPIG59S5dV54OhoPQexarznCH57fjfzWuojhw3xs
A Purr-Suasive Case for Sterilization: How Sterilizing Working Cats Supports Dairy Farmers’ Wellbeing, Improves Animal Welfare, and Benefits the Environment https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/766
Feline Farmhands: The Value of Working Cats to Australian Dairy Farmers—A Case for Tax Deductibility https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/800#:~:text=Our%20findings%20demonstrate%20that%20dairy,reducing%20cats'%20impact%20on%20wildlife
The Conversation, 'Working dogs and horses have tax-deductible upkeep. But Australia’s thousands of working cats go unrecognised' https://theconversation.com/working-dogs-and-horses-have-tax-deductible-upkeep-but-australias-thousands-of-working-cats-go-unrecognised-248675
Poison laid for rats is killing many native animals. 'Ratsak is losing its bite: How to get rid of the rats in your ranks' https://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/ratsak-is-losing-its-bite-how-to-get-rid-of-rats-in-your-ranks-20250604-p5m4sm.html The Age & Sydney Morning Herald, June 10, 2025. Pest Management Science May 30, 2025: https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ps.8936 Daily Mail UK, June 11, 2025: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14801193/rat-poison-resistant-sydney-perth-melbourne.html 'Second-generation rodenticides are so potent they are banned in the United States, Canada and the European Union.' 'The poison makes it way up the food chain and kills other animals in a huge risk to Australia's biodiversity.'
Australia's Political War on Cats: Branding the 'homeless', the 'lost,' and young kittens, as 'feral' and 'wild'. Australian governments slaughter more cats, more horses, more native dingoes. Australian politicians believe it is 'electorally popular' to kill more animals with cat curfews, spreading the private Invasive Species Council's false figures, and misinformation. Watch out for weasel words of 'safe', 'protect', 'educate'.
2025: Victoria State Government Cat Management plan to kill impounded cats after four days: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-20/victorian-cat-management-strategy-fears-likely-to-kill-more-cats/104921730 The Victorian Cat Management Strategy leaves out Key Stakeholders of cat-rescue groups and the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation. VicGov promotes expensive, ineffective, statewide cat-containment as 'responsible', 'welfare'. Victoria's Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of Cats claims: 6. 'Wild born kittens generally do not make good pets'. and brands homeless cats and young kittens as 'feral'. (Department of Agriculture 6 Dec 2023) Though feral cats do not live near people. Urban homeless cats are not feral.
2024 - 2025 Removing the Victorian Prevention of Cruelty to (all) Animals Act, the Minister, in May 2022, announced as part of ‘a 10-year state-wide cat-management strategy’. The new 'Animal Care and Protection Bill' recognises animal 'sentience', but then gives industries licence to hunt, maim and kill - with legal exemption. This Bill makes Community Cats illegal to live - by preventing Trap, Neuter, Return which has proven effective worldwide. Victoria's new Animal Care and Protection Act needs an exemption to save street cats and shelter-workers lives. We need Part 3 Division 2, 21 (1)(d): to make Exemption for Trap Neuter Return and Return to Field programs when run by trained/qualified authorised officers, or specialists in cat management. (The revised Animal Act was released for public consultation on the 15 of Dec 2023 - a time of year to hide intent and to lessen dissent.)
ACT’s new 'sentience' Animal Welfare Legislation Amendment Bill in 2019, preceded 2021's enactment of statewide lifetime cat curfew, with fines of $1600 if a cat steps past its property - enforcing greater cruelty upon cats and carers. Sentencing more cats to death.
The Victorian Cat Management Strategy survey was open worldwide, anonymous, able to be completed multiple times by a person using different browsers, or devices, without proof of declared pet ownership, and of Australian residency. Allowing hate-groups to target, manipulate and hide. Victoria left out Key Stakeholders of the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation and Cat Rescue Groups. 2023's Pet Census was also open-worldwide, and asked questions on only one species of pet - collecting skewed data.
Invasive Species Council, privately-funded, pushes cat curfews and the use of 'Felixer' robots, shooting 1080 poison, that torturously kills homeless cats, Wedge-tailed eagles, dingo pups, goannas, pet dogs, in great agony, and poisons habitat. ISP quotes Legge, Woinarski and spread much misinformation blame on cats. Branding suburban homeless cats as ‘feral’, Woinarski group’s Sarah Legge is continually quoted in The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. ISC claims ‘each domestic cat will kill around 75/100 animals per year.’ - Legge, Woinarski ANU. Local Councils re-quote these false figures, not recognising habitat loss from land-clearing, bushfires, overdevelopments etc. Former Greens Leader, Christine Milne, is an ambassador: https://invasives.org.au/our-team/christine-milne-ambassador/ Invasive Species Council receives funding 'ongoing significant support' from The lan Potter Foundation, the Australian Communities Foundation and its sub-funds, The Purves Environmental Foundation, the Mullum Trust, the Garry White Foundation, Melbourne Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, Paddy Pallin Foundation, and The Ross Trust. https://invasives.org.au/about-us/who-we-are/
2025: Victorian government to collar native dingoes following the Invasive Species Council proposal, against dingo welfare and First Nations lack of consultation. The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, April 2025: https://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/dingoes-to-be-collared-in-contentious-bid-to-protect-sheep-20250401-p5lo8v.html
2025 RSPCA Victoria's campaign 'Rethink Roaming' - Reference is to the Invasive Species Council's faulty data. There is no reference to scientific cat management.
2023 Australian Government declares War On Cats, homeless and lost: https://www.tanyaplibersek.com/media/media-releases/government-declares-war-on-feral-cats/ Woinarski and Legge again: https://theconversation.com/10-year-feral-cat-plan-brings-us-a-step-closer-to-properly-protecting-endangered-wildlife-212976 Sunday Age 17 Sept 2023 p22 https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/claw-and-order-are-cats-villains-or-victims-in-the-war-on-feral-animals-20230911-p5e3oe.html ABC 7 Aug 2023 https://www.abc.net.au/religion/colonialism-underpin-australian-culture-of-animal-cruelty/102697128
2021 The Greens ACT 24-hr Statewide Cat Curfew with $1600 fines on cat-carers: https://greens.org.au/act/news/protecting-cats-and-wildlife-heart-new-act-cat-plan Nationally Greens continue campaigns for cat curfews - which also kill more wildlife.
2019: Scott Morrison and Greg Hunt, with John Woinarski, promising to kill two-million cats within a year. Animals 24/7, USA: https://www.animals24-7.org/2019/05/12/how-killing-cats-helps-to-keep-aussie-liberal-party-in-power/
In 2015 AusGov knew that trapping, killing, curfews - fail: https://www.animals24-7.org/2015/04/11/culling-cats-increases-the-feral-population-australian-study-finds/
Animals 24/7 USA, reports on Australian politicians' cruelty to cats, and misinformation to the public: 2023: https://www.animals24-7.org/2023/07/02/cat-haters-down-under-set-up-rare-birds-for-an-attack-of-h5n1-avian-flu/
In Community Cat Programs, de-sexing needs to be targeted, intensive and monitored, neutering and returning the cats to their home-site. This decreases population, decreases shelter intake, complaints, killing, impact upon staff and costs. A ‘scattergun’ free desexing approach does not work.
90percent of Victoria's impounded cats are homeless - have no homes to be in, many are kittens - killed with no chance. 24-hr curfews cause more cat deaths, more wildlife deaths, rises homeless strays and makes finding homes harder.
Mandated containment rises costly trapping and killing, farms kittens to kill, rises stray cat populations, unequalises neighbours; and targets the poorest, renters, elderly, and the disabled, with high fines. Fanning hate-speech towards felines, and females. There are already laws if you do not want a cat on your property.
Community Cat Programs, the effective solution, do not work with curfews as Community Cats are homeless. With curfews, both 12 and 24hr, the public are encouraged to trap, and this leads to greater impoundments, greater killing, less homes, and much greater cost to all residents.
Safe Cat, Safe Wildlife - is a 'successful' misinformation campaign 'making a killing' to profit private orgs, that Councils cite.
Community Cat Programs - Save Cats Save Wildlife
When a homeless person’s animal is taken into Council Pounds it cannot be returned without a fixed address - Victoria, Australia.
2025 NSW State Inquiry recognises the ineffectiveness of mandated containment/curfews. Management of cat populations in New South Wales report 18th August 2025: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lcdocs/inquiries/3011/Animal%20Welfare%20Committee%20-%20Report%20no.%202%20-%20Management%20of%20cat%20populations%20in%20New%20South%20Wales.pdf Government response recognises that 'desexing is the most effective way of reducing stray cat populations' in 'targeted accessible desexing programs'
Hon Emma Hurst MLC: 'Cat containment laws are simply cat killing laws ...Now don't get fooled. There are campaign organizations that will continue to push for cat containment laws. Now, these organizations and these groups that continue to push for these laws are the people who hate cats, let's be absolutely honest about it. If they were genuinely about reducing the number of cats that are in society, then they would be supporting the solutions where there's evidence that they work. ...Instead, they're pushing for cat killing through cat containment laws, where there's NO evidence that that's even going to work to protect wildlife.... Now, the Wildlife card is continuing to be used, and we know from the evidence that we heard in this inquiry, we heard from major organizations, even WIRES, saying that actually, cats are not the biggest threat to wildlife. The biggest threats that we have to wildlife is deforestation, climate change, overdevelopment… and we know that the government needs to really take action in those spaces if they genuinely want to protect our wildlife.' at Sydney Rally for Community Cats, https://savecommunitycats.org/sydney-rally-23-aug-2025/#emma-hurst-animal-justice-party Emma Hurst: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNrRy_8vz20/?hl=en&img_index=4
'Deforestation doom: 2025 worst year in more than a decade for federally-approved bulldozing of bush' 14 Jan 2026 https://www.acf.org.au/news/deforestation-doom-2025-worst-year-in-more-than-a-decade-for-federally-approved-bulldozing-of-the-bush
Victorian Councils
It is not irresponsible owners, it is irresponsible councils - making cat curfews which kill more wildlife - not less. Carers keep-in their cats at night. 90percent of council impounds, have no owners to contain them, no owners to convict, and curfews make more homelessness.
Casey '24/7... for 27 years, ...• Cats impounded were 680% higher than baseline (from 264 cats in 1998 to 2,058 cats in 2024/25), more than double the rate of human population growth • nuisance complaints increased from 349 in 2000 to 519 in 2024/25. Casey spends close to $1,000 per cat pet impounded cat, approximately around $1.83 million annually. Each complaint costs $290 in officer and vehicle time, and with only 5% of cats reclaimed, most cats go on to incur a further $600 in impoundment costs. ...drains ratepayer funds ...inflicts severe mental health impacts on veterinarians, shelter staff, and the Council’s own animal management officers.' Sept 2025 APWF
City of Melbourne On April 1 2025, City of Melbourne made a 14-hr cat curfew - 6pm - 8am (not 8pm - 6am misreported by news and AI). Melbourne's Agenda 6.1 9 published, falsely, that City of Stonnington had introduced a cat curfew. Councillor pushing 24-hrs said 'Merri-bek has 24-hr containment'. Untrue, Merri-bek Council rejected curfew/mandated containment, to focus on unowned cats. Determined to copycat curfews, the Mayor joked of a 'dog's breakfast', a 'cat-as-trophe.' '5456 cats' '56 cat complaints'. Vote was 5-to-5, then the Mayor used his extra vote to make the curfew. City of Melbourne has 86percent of impounded, unowned, cats, and 30-36percent are killed every year by the contracted Lost Dogs Home. The Melbourne Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation funds 'significant ongoing support' of the private Invasive Species Council. CoM video: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/meeting/future-melbourne-committee-01-april-2025 Agenda and Resolution: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/meeting/future-melbourne-committee-01-april-2025 AdvoCats April submission has been hidden from CoM's Engagement Summary. Yet Melbourne promoted Friends of Royal Park's curfew calls. AdvoCats re-submitted to the second-round in August 2025: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QI_0w4GDwamQuEWNCsUiE-mGqxRxRQCpD1jxH6PXb5o APWF submission: https://petwelfare.org.au/government-submissions/victoria Download: https://framerusercontent.com/assets/dn1gguTfXYDt4EFRXbZJq2Y7gY.pdf
Bayside City Council unanimously rejected 'the proposed 24-hr cat containment restrictions'. 17 Dec 2024 Minutes page 21: https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-12/minutes_-_17_december_2024_-_council.pdf
City of Greater Geelong voted to 'rescind a 24-hr cat containment order' 29 May 2024. 'due to the financial burden on cat owners and the lack of detail on how the policy would affect cat owners living in rental accommodation...particularly in a cost-of-living crisis.' https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/pets/news/item/8dc7ff2d0729a96.aspx https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/pets/news/item/8dc7ff2d0729a96.aspx
Banyule Council Community Cat Program ran from 2013-2021, saving a million dollars - decreasing cat intake: by 66percent, euthanasia: 82percent, complaints: 51percent in target-area, 36percent citywide. Also increasing reclaimed cats by 10percent. After Jennifer Cotterell retired, Banyule replacements then made a curfew, making barriers to access to free desexing, and tripling cat-impounds within 2 years.
‘This kitten was found in a building site wall and although it was a healthy and friendly kitten, we knew the pound was full and it would be euthanased as soon as we got it there. …my co-worker and I sat in the carpark in front of the pound and called everyone we knew in our phone books to see if someone would take the kitten to save it. There was no one for this kitten and unfortunately, as it was a pre-weaned kitten too young to be rehomed, it was taken into the pound and killed. We knew that things had to change. The scenario with this kitten was an everyday occurrence throughout the kitten season, and we were a cat killing taxi service again.’ Jennifer Cotterell
Yarra Ranges Council 24-hr cat curfew has risen impoundments, complaints and killing. ‘In summary, in the City of Yarra Ranges, in the 3rd year after mandating 24/7 cat containment, cat-related complaints, increased by 143%, impoundments increased by 68%, and euthanasia increased by 18% (human population only increased 2%).’ APWF
Knox Council 2026: Punish or partner? Knox residents raise concerns over DAMP Star Mail, March 3, 2026 https://rangestrader.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2026-03-03/punish-or-partner-knox-residents-raise-concerns-over-damp
2021 Knox 24-hour-cat-curfew Order, made without consultation on 24hrs. No statistics were produced. Knox did not follow Community Engagement Policy, or Municipal Health & Wellbeing Plan, kept meetings closed to the public, hid dissent and altered facts, while enacting Order. Knox used an unverifiable survey, anonymous, allowing multiple responses from a person, worldwide, of less than 0.7% (zeropointseven) percent response, without any advertising of considering 24hrs. Night curfew supporters were counted as 24-hrs. A false report's 'recommended 24 hrs', was enacted, without even considering a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Two Knox councillors, residential landlords, pushed loudly for 24-hrs.
Scroll down for Knox AdvoCats case to the Victorian Ombudsman which altered fact, figure, and date, for Knox Council - preventing lawfully-required community consultation, without impartiality or accuracy, and has hidden the case of 143 applicants from public report.
Knox AdvoCats submission to DAMP 2025-2029: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OiHgUSkRKzGQjZ32HpAkjaZAWYAhz0cMqhrh88Hy5gw/edit?usp=sharing Australian Pet Welfare Foundation's submission to Knox (DAMP 25-29): Download: https://framerusercontent.com/assets/hM43OHLmPjaY8EeYyYeOqq0qQg.pdf
Knox Pound Animal Aid Managers reported, and Knox refuses to act: Herald Sun: 'Starved, neglected, euthanised: Shock claims at Vic animal refuge' 6.7.2025 https://www.change.org/p/knox-advocats/u/33716235 Star Mail: https://ferntreegully.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2025-07-15/conflicting-views-in-regards-to-local-animal-welfare-organisation/ 15.7.2025 Yarra Ranges, ignoring report, renews pound contract 28/8/2025: https://upperyarra.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2025-08-28/yarra-ranges-council-endorses-two-motions-for-animal-pound-service
Mount Alexander Shire also had no consultation, and their Council voted for lifetime lockdown, but after public outcry quickly amended to sunset-to-sunrise.
Frankston residents won against 24-hours, and even got dogs their own beach.
Merri-Bek Council - Moggies of Merri-bek for Community Cat Programs website: https://www.moggiesofmerribek.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579912574496 On 13 Sept and 12 Nov 2025 Merri-bek councillors, quoting the Invasive Species Council's false figures, voted for a killing curfew. AdvoCats submission: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O5bQ346qsEkNIf5T9XQwyIfhR73baHx69WwPUj6_-sI/edit?tab=t.0
City of Greater Dandenong is in the worst quartile of Victorian councils killing cats. City of Greater Dandenong has killed 74percent of cats. 368 out of 495 intake. 90percent were not reclaimed. City of Greater Dandenong, used an unverifiable Survey Monkey survey. CGD hid Australian Pet Welfare Foundation evidence, and stated aiming for 24-hr curfew. Eden Foster, the CGD Mayor, was months later elected for Labor, Mulgrave, Victorian Parliament.
Stonnington Council does not have a cat curfew. However, on the 26th of May 2025, Council pushed to end its contract with 'no kill' Save-a-Dog Scheme. Stonnington Agenda was for the high-killing Lost Dogs Home. Agenda states: The Lost Dogs Home advised they recently changed the way they report euthanasia rates to exclude mandatory, non-negotiable euthanasia' - which makes reported figures appear lower. Why does Stonnington Council want doctored reporting of euthanasia? 150 residents attended the meeting, hundreds more sent emails and and messages to councillors - vote was 5 to 4 to extend Save-a-Dog for a year, and to have a taskforce evaluation by December 2025. The Lost Dogs Home was a 'Key Stakeholder' in City of Melbourne's curfew. Info on Stonnington vote: https://www.change.org/p/knox-advocats/u/33564821
Hume - no curfew - will councillors act on opinion when reviewed, or actual scientific evidence?
Hobsons Bay: Google: The implementation of a cat curfew has been considered by Council in recent years; however analysis of data for impounded cats in Hobsons Bay indicates that the wandering cat population is more a symptom of stray and ownerless cats, rather than for owned cats in domestic residences.
Animals Australia's legal challenge to Victoria Government killing native dingoes: The Age & The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 9th Dec 2023 page 7: https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/dingoes-face-being-wiped-out-in-victoria-a-legal-challenge-hopes-to-stop-their-extinction-20231205-p5ep4j.html
Western Australian government announced in July 2023 spending millions using Felixer 1080 poison to kill cats. 1080 is a cruel, and torturous death, and also kills many native animals. The 'Felixer' 1080 targets and kills dingo pups. In Victoria, Australia, 1080 is used on foxes, and Alpine dingoes, misdescribed as ‘wild dogs’ as not 100percent genetically pure blood, and it kills Wedge-tailed eagles, native marsupials and birds, and pet dogs. June 28th 2023 The Age & the Sydney Morning Herald https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/poison-shooting-robots-on-the-front-line-of-war-against-feral-cats-in-wa-20230628-p5dk4n.html
In 1972 the USA banned 1080 poison after it killed native animals and people. Ban 1080: https://www.ban1080.org.au WA spends $7.6million - killing our native animals, and poisoning our environment. In 2021 WA was declared too dangerous for dogs because of the use of 1080 poison: https://www.ban1080.org.au/press-releases/wildlife-department-declares-entire-state-too-dangerous-for-dogs-outdoors https://static1.squarespace.com/static/612ee136efc1241e1fcc567e/t/633e63255ee9a91da8f58564/1665033002834/1080+%E2%80%93+Characteristics+and+use+-+WA+Department+of+Agriculture+and+Food.pdf Ban 1080 in Australia: https://www.ban1080.org.au
Victoria, Australia, any Integrity ‘watchdogs’?
Knox Domestic Animal Management has been using unverifiable surveys, and falsifying data, to 'recommend 24-hrs' lifetime lockdown for cats. Knox DAMP surveys could be completed pretending that the respondent was a cat-owner, a dog-owner, had no pets, choosing different residential suburbs, completed anonymously, multiple times, by child or adult, and was open beyond Australia. Knox Council did not advertise anywhere, or inform residents, it was 'recommending' 24-hrs, before voting for it on 28th June 2021. Residents learnt from news reports. Complaints against 24-hrs were counted as 'support for a curfew'. Councillors voted not to consult the community on 24-hrs, by random-sample survey costing less than $10 per cat-owner.
143 Knox residents took our case to the Victorian Ombudsman -requesting consultation in adherence with the Local Government Act. The Victorian Ombudsman then altered fact, figure, and date, for Knox Council - preventing lawfully-required community consultation, without impartiality or accuracy. The Victorian Ombudsman case-manager did not allow us phone contact for three months while dealing directly with Knox, also denying our request for skilled representatives. Resident files were ignored. An Internal Review added further inaccuracy. The Victorian Ombudsman informed that all complainants in a group case would be counted exactly the same as 143 separate complaints. Knox AdvoCats 143 resident complainants are missing from the Victorian Ombudsman’s Annual Report, and from published media.
Knox AdvoCats case Outcome: https://www.academia.edu/79098963/Knox_AdvoCats_Victorian_Ombudsman_Outcomes Case: https://www.academia.edu/52471373/24_hr_Cat_Curfew_Knox_Council_Trajectory_and_Formal_Complaint Defects the Victorian Ombudsman requested, but then did not address: https:// www.academia.edu/71778676/Knox_Council_Defects_in_24_hr_cat_curfew_report https://www.academia.edu/75862401/Knox_Council_Defects_in_making_24_hr_cat_curfew_Local_Govt_Act
Knox told the Ombudsman they checked their figures with Newfocus and Melbourne University. However MelbUni and Newfocus only gave quotes for making a professional ‘random-sample’ survey that was never made. Council’s survey was not a random-sample, and cannot be verified. Victorian Ombudsman Outcome is the first time we hear of enactment date changed from 28th of June, to the 23rd of August, 2021 - and July complaints then claimed as 'feedback' 'consultation'.
28th of June 2021 vote for 24-hr-cat-curfew Order made without any community consultation. Knox Council did not inform of considering a 24-hr cat curfew. Residents hear of the Order via national news reports.
July 2021 After change.org call-outs, 3288 responded online to Knox's Dog and Cat survey for DAMP 2021-2025. Question 6 states: ‘Update’ ‘recently decided’ ‘Ahead of the cat curfew commencing’. Responses to question 6 are then claimed as ‘feedback’, to obscure the lack of consultation on the 24-hr Order. Council claims ‘support for a curfew’, includes those against 24-hrs, who support only a night curfew, and hides dissenting views.
23rd of August 2021 Stated as the actual date of the Order. Noted that the Order was made under the DAMP 2017-2021, which did not have provision for a 24-hr-cat-curfew.
28th February 2022 The DAMP 2021-2025, containing provision for the 24-hr-cat-curfew is passed.
Residents correspondence to-and-from Council shows that there was no consultation before Council voted on June 28th 2021. Knox Councillors have stated they are 'proud' 'community leaders' that we 'are lucky to have' 'making decisions for the community' when questioned on Knox's denial of community consultation.
Knox has cited 'welfare experts' without qualification, personal opinion, and contractors to Council - without evidence.
Conscience for Cats Save Cats, Save Wildlife Respect Felines
for Knox AdvoCats (also Andy Dixon's petition) https://www.change.org/p/knox-council-review-knox-council-s-plans-for-24hr-cat-curfew
Adverse Impact in an Order that does not ‘provide peace, order and good government’, does not ‘promote a safe physical and social environment, in which residents can enjoy a quality of life’, and ‘adversely affects the enjoyment of life or health, safety and welfare of people’.
No recognition of diversity: Knox Council claim that cats can be walked like dogs on a leash, though the RSPCA's 'does not recommend', is unsafe. Cats cannot be pulled, and vets state they need ‘jumping’ to keep healthy. Knox dogs have an off-leash Order for over 300 parks, reserves and sports fields. Cat needs are not considered.
Cruelty to Animals Cat-runs are cages. Permanent prison isolation and lifetime lockdown is cruel. This law acts as a surreptitious ban on cats.
Targeting the Marginalised, and Devaluation of Property Knox website states ‘We're real dog lovers in the city of Knox, with over 18,500 dogs registered with Council.’ High fines victimise the less-advantaged. Expensive prison cages ruin gardens and devalue properties. Residents did not choose to be made second-class citizens.
Knox crows about removing cat-owner residents right to identity and fair-defence: 'residents dealing with nuisance cat issues, no longer need to provide statements to the Council for cats caught in traps regarding the time of seizure, appear as a witness in Court, or have their addresses listed on ‘cat objection letters’ which are sent to owners of the nuisance cat which identify the complainant.' While Knox dog-owners keep all their rights. Knox hounds cat-owners with high fines, and removes Knox cat-owners legal fairness to fight in court, with Knox representing complainant. Agenda 8 Sept 2025 page 160 https://www.knox.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-09/2025-09-08-AgendaMidMonthMeeting.pdf
Overriding Renters Rights Renters fought for many years for the right to keep their pets, finally made law in 2020. Knox’s 24-hour-cat-curfew disenfranchises renters again - cat-owners lose their equality with dog-owners. Two deciding Councillors are Knox residential landlords, Two state 'biodiversity', yet voted to destroy a 'wildlife corridor', in the Dandenong Foothills.
Denial of Equal Rights Dogs have off-leash dog-parks, and over 300 parks, reserves and sports fields in Knox. Cats have no play parks. Cat regos pay for the Dogs' Party Pets in the Park which is not inclusive, or safe, for cats. Curfew Order hits with high fines, and jail-cats, for being a carer of a pet - being a cat.
How can dog and cat owners prevent their cat from going out the dog-door, or from following the children out? Forced to choose between their food-on-the-table or fur-family?
Pandemic Pets, Therapy, Companions, Mental-Health Cats are Essential Workers. My cat Harry would visit Inclusion Melbourne - welcomed by clients and staff. We stress seeing our cats suffer, as trapped window-watchers, unable to socialise, sun-bathe, and climb trees. Companion cats help avoid loneliness, prevent the contemplation of suicide, some are therapy cats to special-needs children, many aged residents, who can no longer walk dogs, now have cats.
Overdevelopments are decimating native wildlife and canopy trees.
Irresponsible Australian politicians. Curfews make more hate-speech, threats of violence, and cruelty acts towards felines and females.
'Inside the Sick Underworld of Cat Torture Rings: Torture videos are being sold and produced inside Australia'. 'Zoosadism... motivated to harm cats because they are commonly known as women's favourite animal. ...because the screams of a cat can sound like the screams of a woman There's also a demonstrated history of ring members committing real-life violence and it is typically against women.' 'UK animal crime investigator and retired senior detective Mark Randell pointed to the possibility of a link between the Sydney case and sexual abusers. Randell, who has over 40 years of investigative experience all over the world, (says) this would be his first line of inquiry. “When there are cats involved, I’d start by considering links to crimes of violence against women and sexual crimes,” says Randell.' News Corp Australia 9 August 2025, Warning: graphic: https://www.news.com.au/national/unthinkable-inside-the-sick-underworld-of-cat-torture-rings/news-story/f0c098dc7953ea6bcb612a683ed518bb
'Dingo vs. dog: Piper James death reignites Australian animal control debate' Animals 24/7 USA Jan 29th 2025 includes data of Australia's fatal & disfiguring attacks, 2005-2025
https://www.animals24-7.org/2026/01/29/dingo-vs-dog-piper-james-death-reignites-australian-animal-control-debate/
Free our Felines! Being born a cat does not make a criminal.
Australian rescuers are not getting help, donations are down, some forced to closure. The Age 21 August, 2025 'From gangster to pussycat: How Fat Tony and friends found their ninth life' https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/from-gangster-to-pussycat-how-fat-tony-and-friends-found-their-ninth-life-20250806-p5mkv2.html 9 Lives Project: https://www.the9livesproject.org/ Forever Friends: https://foreverfriends.supporterhub.net.au/donations/donation-page Save-Dog Scheme: https://saveadog.org.au/support/donate/
The Sydney Morning Herald Jan 2023: https://www.theage.com.au/national/nsw/pointless-killing-councils-labelled-cruel-amid-heated-debate-over-threat-cats-pose-to-native-wildlife-20221206-p5c487.html
Update on Victorian Government's 10-year cat plan: https://www.change.org/p/knox-advocats/u/30644944
AdvoCats letters in Boronia & The Basin Community News May 2022 page 4: https://bbcn.org.au/wp-content/uploads/MAY-2022_compressed.pdf
Knox AdvoCats on Facebook (not currently updated) https://www.facebook.com/Fighting4FelineFreedoms/
Legislative Council petition: https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/parliamentary-activity/hansard/hansard-details/HANSARD-974425065-19163#wysiwyg
Knox Council has a record of animal abuse, killing cat Mytzle in a trap: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/outer-east/cat-traps-that-led-to-mytzles-death-still-available-from-knox-council/news-story/a1b651d68ca6e97a2e3046ff2e3dd373
Knox dog Izzy's owner fought to the High Court and won Izzy’s life, which cost Knox $600,000, though Knox sent Izzy to Queensland. ***
https://www.smh.com.au/national/high-court-told-dog-on-death-row-did-not-receive-fair-hearing-20150414-1ml2ou.html
Knox Council is killing native birds and wildlife. During stage 4 lockdown, I walked, gaining 58 objections to save a 'wildlife corridor' next to a National Park. Knox Council stated only 47 objections - preventing community consultation. So I found hidden objections, including from Save the Dandenongs League, still no consult. We raised $5000 and an experienced environment representation. At VCAT court we found the fenceline had been removed on the plans, hiding from residents that the developer's carpark would be placed over Ferny Creek Trail. Knox's lawyer told many untruths. Stating that in Knox Council's future plans, residents 1940s homes will not exist, as Knox plans large office blocks instead of residents' vintage houses and small businesses. Council's own experts alerting to traffic danger were ignored, and the single 'disabled' carpark is not legal size for a wheelchair. The developer's building is sold world-wide as high-density residential/commercial and will operate 24-hours. No one has seen an internal layout - from a developer specialising in build and re-sale. In Melbourne's environmentally-sensitive Dandenong Foothills. Long-term residents in a restored railway home felt forced to sell-up. Two Knox councillors, claiming 'biodiversity' for curfew, also voted to kill Australian native birds, and habitat; one states is her 'legacy': https://www.gofundme.com/f/SaveDandenongFoothills
Knox Council Meeting Links: 28 June 2021 - Press 6.2 Cat Curfew Order Passing 24-hr law, without consultation on 24-hrs. http://webcast.knox.vic.gov.au/archive/video21-0628.php Agenda 28 June 2021 Cat Curfew Order pages 10-86 - for 'recommended' 24-hrs, without any evidence, or accuracy. Knox's unverifiable faulty survey was made in-house. https://www.knox.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-06/2021-06-28%20-%20Agenda%20Meeting%20Council.pdf Most Councillors lacked knowledge. 26th July 2021 Press 13 Motion 120 for place http://webcast.knox.vic.gov.au/archive/video21-0726.php 23 August 2021 Press 14.2 for exact place - Knox Councillors decide cat-owners are not worth $10 each for a 'random sample' survey of 1200 residents, denying consultation on 24-hrs, while enforcing cat registration payments, and fines, without any benefit for owners. http://webcast.knox.vic.gov.au/archive/video21-0823.php February 28th 2022 meeting http://webcast.knox.vic.gov.au/archive/video22-0228.php press 6.5 below Council states ratepayers will pay more for prosecution.
Breaches Councillors Code of Conduct https://www.knox.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-07/councillor-code-of-conduct.pdf
Local Government Act 2020 requires community engagement, public transparency, integrity and response-able use of position https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/20-009aa%20authorised_0.pdf
Victoria's highest contract-killers of cats: Lost Dogs Home and RSPCA. RSPCA Australia lobbies Councils for mandated ‘cat containment’ Knox Council paid RSPCA for webinars, booklets. The Lost Dogs Home has most pound contracts and 'advised they changed the way they report euthanasia rates' to appear lower to the public. 389 cats euthanised as 'Unsuitability for sale', were recategorized as 'Diseased, Injured, Unweaned/Orphaned and Behaviour' - Behaviour =being scared, trapped, caged. Stonnington Agenda 26 May 2025
Greater Western Sydney Giants players whole-club mission to save street-cats, including Greyboy, Papaya, Paw Paw, Pebbles, Pendles, Coco, Joey and Torti. 20 March 2024 https://www.afl.com.au/news/1090324/mission-im-puss-ible-the-club-wide-cat-rescue-at-giants-hq
Liverpool England, football fans calling out cat cruelty, protest banners, and an aeroplane trailing Cats Lives Matter! https://www.si.com/fannation/soccer/futbol/news/liverpool-fans-taunt-kurt-zouma-cats-lives-matter-banner
National Cat Awards, UK: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/65333855 https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/genevieve-is-deaf-her-hero-cat-zebby-helps-her-and-has-won-a-national-award/lhvxywz64
Brigitte Bardot Foundation is a core sponsor of the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation for community cat desexing. “Your country is sullied by the blood of millions of innocent animals,” (Brigitte) told a succession of Australian governments, “so please, don’t add cats to this morbid record.” www.animals24-7.org/2025/12/31/brigitte-bardot-91-movie-star-for-20-years-animal-advocate-for-52-years/ https://petwelfare.org.au/
Cyprus moves to ban euthanasia of stray dogs and cats under new law. February 26, 2026 https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/local/cyprus-ban-euthanasia-stray-dogs-cats-new-law
Household cat could hold the key to understanding breast cancer Wellcome Sanger Institute 19 Feb 2026 https://www.sanger.ac.uk/news_item/household-cat-could-hold-the-key-to-understanding-breast-cancer/ Science 19 Feb 2026 Vol 391, Issue 6787 pp. 793-799
USA PAW: https://www.facebook.com/USAPAW
Please Share the Evidence.
Where is any Conscience - any commitment to community?
Stop Cat Lifetime Lockdowns! Caging Cats Is Cruel.
Jazzcat6 - video poems: https://www.youtube.com/@jazzcat6
Harry the Birman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF7phIAxezQ
Thank you AdvoCats!
Ashlley Morgan - Shae http://ashlleymorganshae.com/htdocs/Events.html
1,947
The Decision Makers
Supporter voices
Petition created on 23 July 2021