By NICOLE VALICEK
HOBSONS Bay City council may increase animal registration rates and will investigate the introduction of a cat curfew.
The council adopted its Domestic Animal Management Plan 2013-17 during last week’s council meeting.
The four-year plan covers the control of dangerous dogs, responsible pet ownership, identification and registration of animals, compliance and enforcement.
The plan will investigate introducing photos on the council’s website to assist owners in finding their lost pets and implement ‘blitz’ programs to educate and enforce on-leash requirements to reduce the likelihood of dog attacks in the community.
It also plans to increase the cat trap loan service and investigate the introduction of a cat curfew to reduce the number of nuisance and cat complaints, and investigate the introduction of mandatory de-sexing prior to registration to address the cat overpopulation and high euthanasia rates.
According to the plan animal registration rates will be increased by expanding the use of the variable message board placement of A-boards to advise of pet registration responsibilities.
The plan does not yet say how much registration will go up.
In April 2010, the standard cost of registering a cat was $82 which jumped to $96 in April 2013.
The maximum cost for dog registration was $126 in April 2013, a $20 increase from April 2010.
In 2013, the estimated dog population in the municipality stands at 21,122 and the estimated cat population at 14,015.
According to a community survey the highest concerns were support for mandatory de-sexing of cats; stray cats and wandering cats; “dangerous” dogs and dog attacks and dog litter.
Other issues raised in community feedback included interest around a fenced “off leash” park for dogs, cat curfews and better enforcement of responsible pet ownership requirements.
In April 2013, 3751 cats and 10,882 dogs were registered.
Councillor Colleen Gates said she was particularly pleased with the focus around increasing the cat strap main service.
“I know there’s usually a waiting period or a bit of a queue for people who want to use that service,” Cr Gates said.
The plan will attempt to increase cat and dog registrations by 10 per cent.
A number of key stakeholders were consulted during the development of the plan including the Humane Society For Animal Welfare Inc.
President of the organisation Patricia Carden said their main concern is with over-population of companion animals with cats in particular.
“It’s a massive welfare problem,” she said.
The number of unregistered cats impounded in Hobsons Bay in April 2013 was 610.
“We feel mandatory de-sexing all cats over three months of age is the only way to go,” Ms Carden said.
The council’s plan will be submitted to the Department of Environment and Primary Industries.
