Love Rescue Collaborate

21/06/2024

🤬🤬🤬 Fight the farmers seeking to reverse the legislation & you can help keep animals safe from pain and fear!!
😎😎😎 PLEASE take just a few mins to sign a petition to keep shock collars for animals illegal.

"Shock collars are designed to cause deliberate physical and psychological harm to animals, and are opposed by leading animal protection organisations and experts."

🐴🐏🐖🐑🦙🐄🐃🐴🐏🐖🐑🦙🐄🐃🐴🐏🐖🐑🦙🐄🐃🐴🐏🐖🐑🦙🐄🐃🐴🐏🐖🐑🦙🐄🐃🐴🐏🐖🐑🦙🐄🐃

15/06/2024

Register to receive a recording of the vital information on neonatal care 😻😻😻
Unless you are awake and have "space" to watch online ;)

😎😎😎 "social media had created thousands of influencers sharing information on the best ways to save these little ones. This information is often conflicting. In 2023, several major shelter medicine programs and animal advocacy groups updated their guidelines for caring for neonatal kittens which added even more confusion and debate about the best ways to care underage kittens.

Join Dr. Julie Levy and Marnie Russ for a review of these changes and clarification about feeding schedules, weaning age, temperature regulation, euthanasia rates, medical interventions, combining litters, socialization and adoption. Come away knowing how you and your shelter can provide neonatal kittens with the best possible care."

https://maddiesfund-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uxbQTBXrSw2gbukyVe1Peg? #/registration

14/06/2024

😎😎😎HOW MUCH IS NSW dependent on community cat rescuers?
For Kevin, please feel welcome contacting NSW govt reps:

EMAIL/ CONTACTS – please add your Mayor and Councilors
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
------------ text in email to include the following ------------
To: The Hon. Ron Hoenig MP Minister for Local Government,
The Hon. Emma HURST, MLC (Chair, Animal Welfare Committee),
Ms Abigail BOYD, MLC (Substitute Member, Portfolio Committee No. 8 - Customer Service, for Pounds in New South Wales)

🧐PLEASE read the post from a community cat rescue group - the post includes what this group does to help stray cats, that they get contacted up to 5 times every day with referrals from RSPCA, and get no financial assistance from the state nor local governments...
😭🤬😭Sickening, how quickly RSPCA NSW will euthanase a cat without giving the cat a chance. There was video from the previous day which showed he was not feral and was managing with his foot. Kevin looked a happy-chappy cat in the video. And then along came RSPCA, NOT to the rescue. 🤬🤬🤬

UPDATE! Please sign the petition https://chng.it/7WB55NnSSD

KEVIN’S STORY! We were contacted by a lady on Tuesday night at 9pm who had three hungry cats visit her house in Burwood. Kevin was a sprightly healthy friendly boy probably about 8-10 months old and had a congenital foot deformity from birth, which you can see below. It didn’t seem to bother him. We organised to help Kevin and the other mum and baby and asked her to keep feeding the trio and keep them inside. Kevin didn’t have a name but we owed it to him to give him one and respect his memory.

Unfortunately she was impatient and at 9am on Wednesday morning she contacted RSPCA NSW to come and get him. They had a vehicle in the area and picked Kevin up from the lady and told her that his foot was the result of a birth defect and they would probably kill him as a last resort. They would not take the mother and kitten (wearing a jumper) that was with him (luckily as it turned out). We surmise they were a neighbours cats looking for food.

We started posting for assistance for Kevin and his two little friends on Wednesday night not knowing the RSPCA had already swooped in. The lady who was caring for them told me after we posted and we had arranged to assist her, that she had called RSPCA and they had come and taken Kevin but not the others.

As it was too late to contact RSPCA on Wednesday night, our volunteer Lesley phoned them around 8.30am Thursday morning asking if he was alive and that we would take him into our care. She was told by the receptionist he was at their Yagoona shelter and she would update her by calling her at 10.30am. She didn’t say any more than that. Lesley never got the call. At 11am Lesley phoned again and the receptionist she spoke to was on another call and so she left her details asking for the receptionist to call her. At 2pm yesterday Lesley still hadn’t heard from them so she called and found out they had killed Kevin less than 24 hours in their care. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED! 😡😡

We then phoned RSPCA immediately as we got the text from Lesley that he was dead. 😩😭

The response from the receptionist was that he wasn’t microchipped or registered as the justification for killing him. I reminded her that RSPCA as with all animal shelters has an obligation under the law to hold stray animals for 7 days. I asked to escalate the matter and asked to speak to management. She said someone would call us. We didn’t receive a call so phoned again later yesterday afternoon only to be assured someone would call us. WE ARE STILL WAITING.

Just to give you context Sydney Street Cats receives upto 5 referral calls each day from RSPCA NSW asking people to contact us to rescue their cats. We are a one man band volunteer operation who punch well above our weight rescuing cats. We are NO KILL and have rescued 1,200 street cats in 10 years and have only had to put a handful of cats to sleep over the years through end of life or being mortally injured. We treat every cat that is injured or sick we don’t spare any expense they all go on to live their best lives.

RSPCA NSW kill 28% of cats that come into its shelter (over 4,000 in 2023). They receive $65million in annual revenue and has $136million in cash reserves and a brand new $35million shelter in Yagoona. They have hundreds of paid staff members and a CEO purportedly on $500,000 a year. People tell me there never seems to be animals there.

We are still waiting to hear from you on why you thought Kevin’s life was not worth anything RSPCA!! And why you did not hold him for 7 days as per the law. He is not feral and his foot is easily treatable.

Who holds RSPCA to account when they fail to help animals when we in rescue work so hard around the clock giving our own money and resources to stop animals ending up there and giving them the best chance to live. Because at the end of the day that’s what any animal wants. It’s up to us to make that happen.

DO BETTER RSPCA! We won’t let this rest and will keep going for Kevin. We love you Kevin💕😢sleep well you beautiful boy

NSW government contacts to complain about RSPCA NSW
EMAIL/ CONTACTS – please add your Mayor and Councilors
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
------------ text in email to include the following ------------
To: The Hon. Ron Hoenig MP Minister for Local Government,
The Hon. Emma HURST, MLC (Chair, Animal Welfare Committee),
Ms Abigail BOYD, MLC (Substitute Member, Portfolio Committee No. 8 - Customer Service, for Pounds in New South Wales)

11/06/2024

UPDATE: Email address is: [email protected]
Email subject/ title is: Parliamentary Inquiry into the live sheep export phase out legislation
Write just one sentence: I do not support live export, it needs to be shut down ASAP.
OR: I support shutting down live export ASAP.
OR: The live sheep export industry is cruel and needs to be shut down ASAP.
OR: Shut it down!!!

-------------------------------
😎😎😎 CLOSES MIDNIGHT TONIGHT (TUES 11th) - in just 5 mins you can send an email in by midnight with just one sentence!!! just support the end of live export! 😍
🤓Check out the key points from Alliance for Animals, if your time is really limited, then just send in your own version of #1:
"I support the phase out of live sheep exports and commend the government for introducing this legislation. Live sheep export is a cruel and marginal trade that should have been phased out decades ago."
GOES TO: [email protected]

If you have more time, then send in a submission... see the AA link 🧐🧐🧐

Please make an urgent submission: Here is a simple guide to help you make a submission to the Inquiry into to End Live Sheep Exports by Sea Bill.

06/06/2024

Check the latest directory for subsidised desexing - just keep in mind that in NSW there are separate expenses for lifetime registration ($50+ then $85+ for desexing a cat once 4 months of age or older)😎 😻 🧐 [note our recent post requesting urgent assistance with free desexing and nil registration costs]

It's our 20th National Desexing Month Campaign in July and we think "it's time we had 'the talk' about desexing your furbaby"!

🌼With spring breeding season around the corner, pets, particularly cats 🐱, breed at an astounding rate in the warmer months, so to prevent unwanted litters and overpopulation, vets across Australia are offering their expertise 🩺 at a discounted rate to provide desexing to the general public*🌼

🧐Check out our Low-Cost Desexing Directory and CALL 📞 the vet clinic near you to BOOK NOW for July appointments! ⏱

🔗 https://ndn.org.au/desexing-directory/

Important to note:
🐾Vouchers NOT required for Vet Clinics participating in National Desexing Month Campaign, identified by a RED 🔴placeholder on the map. Call the vet clinic directly to check availability for discounted desexing procedure in July.
🐾*Some vet clinics participating in July are only able to offer discounts to pension/concession cardholders. Please check the listing carefully.
🐾Vet clinics can join the campaign anytime until July. Please check back later if there is nothing suitably close today.
🐾Our website also lists vet clinics that offer amazing discounts all year round to pension/concession cardholders, identified by a BLACK⚫️ placeholder on the map, so you can book in earlier/later if there is availability.

ℹ️ If you are a pet owner, vet, animal welfare organisations or council and have any questions or would like more information, please don't hesitate to give us a call on 📞1300 368 962, email [email protected] or visit our website 🔗 https://ndn.org.au/2024-ndm-national-desexing-month/

👍Thank you to all those vet clinics and organisations participating this year to help our local community in these financially tough times, and to pet owners who are having the talk with their pets and / or friends about how important desexing your pet is.🥰

04/06/2024

😎😎😎ARE YOU A NSW COMMUNITY CAT RESCUER / CARER with community cats under your care & DESPERATE FOR HELP WITH DESEXING? Then SPEND 10+MINS to HELP MANY CATS by SIMPLY SENDING AN EMAIL!!

😭😭😭The abandoned cats & rescuers/ carers are suffering dreadfully with the ludicrous situation we are in with many NSW councils refusing to assist “stray” cats who may roam, when the councils concurrently advise residents to seek help from the rescuers.

🧐🧐🧐The crisis of cats being abandoned in NSW has been occurring for the last three years, and is ever increasing if the cats on the streets cannot be desexed easily & are not assisted by the councils & if the rescuers cannot access free or heavily subsidised desexing without costly mandatory chipping & registration (plus around an extra $100 for desexing & registering a cat over 4 months of age).

The LRC team have put together email addresses & suggested wording in relation to the critical crisis being experienced by the cats, and community cat rescuers, those expected to assist the abandoned cats without help! PLEASE send your customised email ASAP so we can help more cats 🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛

EMAIL/ CONTACTS – please add your Mayor and Councilors

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

To: The Hon. Ron Hoenig MP Minister for Local Government,
The Hon. Emma HURST, MLC (Chair, Animal Welfare Committee),
Ms Abigail BOYD, MLC (Substitute Member, Portfolio Committee No. 8 - Customer Service, for Pounds in New South Wales)

FIND YOUR MAYOR & COUNCILLORS here or on your council website https://loverescuecollaborate.org/2022/10/20/nsw-councillors-names-emails/

-------------------------------
EMAIL GUIDELINES – please add your feelings and experiences, and be respectful
--------------------------------

Attn Please: Request for urgent attention for semi owned and unowned cats and the community cat rescuers and carers who carry the burden for these cats – requesting grants similar to Weddin Council KCSAH [R1] & the Banyule Council cost effective funded Free Cat Desexing Program [R2].

Currently many councils are refusing to take in and assist stray cats [R3] explaining that under the NSW Companion Animal Act cats are allowed to roam [R4]. However, designated Rehoming Organisations may take in strays/ unowned cats [R5}, then why not councils?

In summary, the NSW state government and all 128 councils may best assist the crisis with abandoned / stray cats by providing support with:

• rapid exemptions or amnesties from current legislation in key areas to enable care of semi owned or unowned / abandoned cats to be interpreted as legal [R6],
• funding for grass roots desexing programs available to all local government areas/ councils until long term community cat programs are established, where rapid desexing programs will be coordinated by council Animal Management Officers, assisted by community cat rescuers, and desexing at local vet practices (similar to the successful Weddin council & Banyule council approaches),
• rapid establishment of these temporary grass roots desexing programs that are urgently required to address the crisis with abandoned cats – our NSW state government and local councils established rapid methods for managing building developments, often termed “activating”, why not activate grass roots desexing programs for improving animal welfare outcomes?

The total estimate for each year is $13 million, and will provide direct humane animal welfare benefits for abandoned cats, reducing breeding, and reduced nuisance calls/ complaints to councils, before long term improvements in the CA Act and council AMO roles etc. are implemented, and aligns with the outcomes from the NSW Pound Inquiry Questionnaire Report [R7] that our animal welfare systems require better funding for improved animal welfare outcomes; and fair and reasonable outcomes for community cat rescuers and carers [R8].

R1: https://weddinlandcare.com.au/milestone-for-keeping-cats-safe-at-home-project/
R2: Banyule https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/11/1615
R3: example https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid034vXJUkPcdDUjG2kNSfNNueGq6xdCY516y7x7qCV1G1W16mmLwNPSuy9wv5G3UxTVl&id=100051496999403
R4: https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1998-087
R5:https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Guidelines-for-Designated-Rehoming-Organisations-Version-2.0-November-2021-Guidelines-Tab-1.pdf
R6: https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/pdf/inforce/2024-01-10/act-1979-200
R7:https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lcdocs/other/18450/Online%20questionnaire%20report%20-%20Pounds%20in%20NSW.pdf
R8: “the severity of the adverse psychological impacts, and the morbidity rate amongst the cat caregivers.. was far greater than would be expected as a risk to the community if the cats had remained at the site. We therefore suggest that potential legal ramifications should be considered before authorities intentionally choose a method of management that is likely to inflict substantial harm on community members.” 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

02/06/2024

For all the rescuers who have foster carers: 😎😻🐕‍🦺🐕🐰 PLEASE help a survey by BC SPCA* 31 questions, fairly straight forward, and you will be able to receive the results :) They advise 20 mins however if your organisation is fairly simple then this will take much ess time.
🧐 The survey is open to input from other countries - getting the latest research is always good, especially considering how in recent years we have gone from mass adoptions during Covid 😍to mass pet abandonment 😭
(The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA).

Urgent call for organisations with foster carers/foster programs to PLEASE complete this research survey!

The last question is about focus groups that have already taken place (sorry!) and the survey will be closing late next week.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FosterLeader2024

All survey participants will receive a summary of the survey results, which will provide animal welfare organizations with a "snapshot" of foster programming from around the world and may support your organization's foster program planning.

Please feel free to forward the survey to other animal welfare/ animal rescue organizations in your network. The more data we have, the more we can learn from one another!

This survey is part of the BC SPCA's Foster Experience Project. If you have any questions about the survey, please feel free to email: [email protected]

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FosterLeader2024

30/05/2024

😻😻😻Great news for cats in Australia! Research on the BANYULE COUNCIL FREE DESEXING program is published to the world!
AND the program worked!!! 🤩🤩🤩 with the best outcomes for reducing the numbers of cats in the local area, the nuisance complaints of roaming cats, and reducing impacts to wildlife!
All evidence-based science!

🧐🧐🧐 This is ground-breaking detailed findings - and soooo handy for anyone & everyone to raise with their councils, state/territory, federal governments, all your pollies etc

“…proactive management based on targeted sterilization should be utilized by government and animal welfare agencies in Australia and internationally. These types of programs are effective at reducing cat intake and euthanasia and are cost-effective.”

“Traditional methods used for cat management based on trap–adopt or euthanize programs have been ineffective, with cat-related calls and cat impoundments continuing to increase, resulting in many healthy cats being euthanized.”

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/11/1615

Plus this article https://theconversation.com/how-to-cut-stray-cat-numbers-in-a-way-that-works-better-for-everyone-229291?

😎😎😎 It also contains findings on how the AMO role may work proactively with the community to find synergies for improvements in real / actual pet ownerships.

The LRC team will unpack the details soon, but for now, here is the link and some top quotes 😃😃😃

26/05/2024

Safe zone? what safe zone when choppers fly low overhead and terrify the horses? from those on the ground: "it is blatantly obvious that the choppers have been flying over the safe zone scaring the brumbies" 🤬🤬🤬 "The cover ups ,the lies ,the propaganda ,the chopper flying over the safe zone spooking the brumbies, they really do not care."
"We have on nearly every visit now found a lone ,lost ,young and scared brumby. We did again yesterday ,a yearling filly that had no doubt been spooked along with her mob and become lost. It seems to be the norm up there these days.
Yes it makes me so angry all that is going on 😡"

25/05/2024

😎😎😎 Do you see the similar issues with the introduced horses as with abandoned domestic cats? We couldn't agree more than with this statement: “Neglecting animals and then mass culling them is not animal management...
the previous failures... has led us to this current situation." 🤬😡🤬

Given the significant NSW inquiry into the brumby/ wild horse "fiascos" this week, it might be timely to take note of the view raised by Animal Care Australia late last year. Refer link that follows for the detailed media release.

https://www.animalcareaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NSW_Brumby-Wonderland_MEDIA-RELEASE.pdf

21/05/2024

😎😎Do you have a photo of your pet? a cute, simple, authentic photo? well you could win a $50 voucher at Ikea (hopefully no big strings attached other than reusing your photo😉)
"There’s a hundred $50 gift cards, 10 IKEA curated pet care packages, and an extra special $300 gift card and digital prize up for grabs."

Seach for: ikea pet competition or try https://www.ikea.com/au/en/campaigns/ikea-family-com-pet-ition-time-pub05883280

You need to be an Ikea member and there are terms and Conditions, which include, NO:
"(f) images of humans (whether in whole or part);
(g) images of branded products which are not IKEA products or images of competitor products
(being other home furnishings or furniture products); or
(h) images of IKEA products being used in an unsafe or offensive manner.
Eligible Participants may also submit 25 words to describe their pet (Written Submission)." The latter is optional.

Good luck!!! 😍😍😍

19/05/2024

🤬🤬🤬 SHAKY SCIENCE?!? AGAIN?? More limited & misleading information from those associated with Legge & Woinarski questionable "research" - please raise with Minister Tanya P and others... please take the time to read the item and to send emails for the cats. Tanya's email: [email protected]

😎 The LRC team and others promote cat containment but we also know that promotion is much better than more legislation that when enforced will likely mean killing people's pets!

Here's some examples of misleading information that is presented in the "Analysis" published by the Conversation:
🧐 1. the "ban" in the title is never explicitly described - is it a nighttime curfew or 24x7? what happens to the cats who are found roaming? how will "situations" with people from different cultures (including indigenous pet owners) be "educated"? what are the solutions other than trap and culling/killing?
🧐 2. there's no differentiation between pet cats and domestic semi owned and unowned cats, or are the latter implied as feral cats as promoted by Invasive Species? (a totally incorrect definition)
🧐 3. there's no recognition of the rate of abandoned cats, the causes, nor solutions for these cats and their carers
🧐 4. there's no recognition that mandatory containment implies all roaming cats may be seen as "illegal" and that cat haters may be encouraged to take matters into their own hands increasing animal cruelty to roaming cats
🧐 5. Legge and Woinarski are supported by Invasive Species Council and their work is largely based on feral cats in arid areas, and they are not considered experts in domestic cats especially in urban areas - the research paper is included in A Biodiversity Council paper and those who closely follow and were likely completed the survey "to monitor ongoing public concern and action for nature, and gain greater understanding of public support for potential reforms relevant to current policy agendas", would be strong conservationists with a bias against cats. Concerns/ issues include:
a. only 3,400 were surveyed by (strong) conservationists, yet The Conversation "Analysis" often uses this is "most people", "a clear majority" and "communities would broadly support" implied for everyone everywhere in Australia
b. the finding that only 8% oppose cat containment does NOT recognise that 26% neither support nor oppose cat containment
c. the findings that 66% of those (strong) conservationists support cat containment, does not recognise that there are 5 (yes, five) other surveyed policies have even more support, such as 81% for "Protect native wildlife that are culturally significant (e.g.
platypus)"
🧐 6. fails to recognise that mandatory cat containment has not proven effective in any local council across Australia - in our words it has not proven "value for money" ie outcomes for investing taxpayer funds :)
🧐 7. fails to recognise/ include that desexing programs are effective in reducing the number of cats, the number of cats abandoned, roaming cats, complaints to councils, impacts to wildlife etc
🧐 8. the 4 out of 5 roaming cats will hunt is based on questionable research that appears to be "daisy chaining", in our words layers of assumptions based on very little evidence-based research (ie actual counting) which is available in other Australian research of domestic cats in urban areas
🧐 9. is this fear mongering of diseases to demonise all cats? - the study referenced is from 1986, the study does not appear to confirm that the disease came from cats as it tests for antibodies, and toxo is more likely to be obtained from mishandling raw meat or eating under cooked meat, than pet cats in urban areas, also there is a vaccination available to cats for toxo, so why not invest in this?

🧐 SHAKY SCIENCE?!? AGAIN?? Why doesn't this "Analysis" item include Australian based research and findings from domestic cat experts?

😍😍😍Let's support the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation and their long list of Australian evidence based researches to properly and effectively address cat management issues - without the fear mongering and demonising of cats, & encouraging cat haters to harm or kill roaming cats!

* The ABC / The Conversation item can be found here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-19/banning-pet-cats-roaming-native-animals-billions-dollars-council/103856000
[* The Biodiversity report link can be found in the comments to this LRC post]

18/05/2024

Sadly another breed of working dog, too often chosen for a pet in suburbia 😢 Maremma's are getting surrendered to rescuers, organisations not with any regular government funding.
Let's ask again why breeders are not responsible for the animals for the animal's lifetime?
Answer: because it would make the breeder's business unsustainable!
And isn't that what should happen? 🕶 😎 👓

Maremma dilemma as animal rescuers report rising number of guardian dogs surrendered by unprepared families - ABC News

An animal sanctuary is receiving up to five phone calls a day from dog owners asking, "Can you take my Maremma?" as they find the bundles of fluff become large dogs needing lots of room and discipline.

18/05/2024

WOW!!! 😎😎😎 this is in Vic... vets in a van and providing subsidised desexing for rescue groups in regional areas, from the Vet Project team "we’re a private company and we have built our surgery van from the ground up solely with money from our own pockets ☺️. We have absolutely no support from the government or councils to keep our prices affordable and we also offer the same low cost services for any member of the community that needs them 💜"
Now why isn't the Vic govt providing grants?
Now what is stopping the same "model" / setup in NSW and other states? 😍😍😍

12/05/2024

Happy Mother's Day to all who rescue & nurture, those who lend a helping hand in anyway 😍❤️ 😍

11/05/2024

CAT RESCUERS & CARERS!!! BANYULE COUNCIL Vic NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU by end of tomorrow 12th May! The Council is seeking feedback (just 3 questions) for cats in open public places... but it appears they have not considered
- the FREE HIGH INTENSITY DESEXING PROGRAM kicked off ten years ago,
- NOR COMMUNITY CAT RESCUERS helping SEMI OWNED & UNOWNED CATS 😎🤓😎
The THREE QUESTIONS are in our images with suggested topics for you to tailor or feel very welcome to write your own responses. More information below.

🧐The Survey is here: https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/PETS

🤩 SEE OUR SUGGESTIONS FOR RESPONSES TO THREE QUESTIONS in our images. Please tailor to your own words, and there are reference sources below, if you would like to say more.
Our team also has noted concerns in the discussion paper in relation to the high number of native animals quoted to every roaming cat… shaky science! Please refer below for more information.

USEFUL REFERENCE SOURCES

https://petwelfare.org.au/2023/07/10/position-statement-on-domestic-cats-and-australian-native-wildlife-populations/

https://petwelfare.org.au/2022/08/31/australian-pet-welfare-foundation-position-statement-on-cat-containment/

https://www.ava.com.au/policy-advocacy/advocacy/unwanted-companion-animals/mandatory-desexing/

AIAM Annual Conference on urban animal management 2007, “Mandatory Desexing in the ACT: Has it Worked” Dr Michael Haywardhttps://aiam.org.au/resources/Documents/2007%20Workshop%20presentations/Mandatory%20Desexing%20in%20the%20ACT%20-%20Has%20it%20worked,%20Dr%20Michael%20Hayward.pdf

https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/position-statement-mandatory-spayneuter-laws

https://petwelfare.org.au/community-cat-program-faq/

https://petwelfare.org.au/community-cat-program-news-2/

Also available on the NSW Pound Inquiry, Submissions tab,
Inquiry-into-pounds-in-NSW-APWF-submission-final.pdf petwelfare.org.au

"In Banyule City Council (Melbourne, Victoria) in the third year after implementing a high-intensity free desexing program (a community cat program) targeted to where cat-related calls and impoundments were occurring in Banyule (typically the low socio-economic areas):
• impoundments decreased by 61%
• euthanasia decreased by 74%
• cat-related calls decreased by 64% (from 11 to 4 cat calls/1000 residents)

Since 2013, Banyule has spent $60,000 on its free desexing program and saved $397,500 on cat impoundment costs alone (Cotterell 2021, Banyule City Council 2020, NSW Rehoming Review 2022).

RSPCA NSW Community Cat Program

There has been a reduction in intake of 31% in first year and 46% in the second year for Greenacre in Canterbury-Bankstown after desexing of 8 cats/1000 through the RSPCA Keeping Cats Safe at Home program (NSW Rehoming Review 2022). After one year of targeted free cat desexing through the RSPCA NSW Keeping Cats Safe at Home program, cat nuisance complaints reduced dramatically in Campbelltown (-56%), City of Parramatta (-49%), Shoalhaven (-56%) and Weddin Shire (-66%) council areas. The reduction in cat nuisance complaints reflects a reduction in stray cats in the target area (RSPCA 2023 pers comm).

Australian Pet Welfare Foundation (APWF) Community Cat Program

In Ipswich Queensland, over 2000 cats have been desexed in a targeted Community Cat program. Targeted suburbs had intake to shelters reduce by 35% to 55% over 2 years, while remaining unchanged in comparison suburbs."

THE DISCUSSION PAPER IS HERE:
https://hdp-au-prod-app-ban-shapingbanyule-files.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/7517/1202/0361/Discussion_Paper_-_Public_Order_Review_Dogs_and_Cats_in_Public_Places.pdf

CONCERNS WITH THE DISCUSSION PAPER - Note we are not asked for feedback on the discussion paper, but it may fit under the final question😉

1. It is a concern that the discussion paper includes “Research indicates that if permitted to roam outside, each individual domestic cat will kill around 186 native animals in Australia each year”. There has been minimal research on domestic cats and impacts to wildlife, and certainly the current wording implies all roaming cats hunt and each and every roaming domestic cat kills 186 native animals – this is not based on evidence-based research and therefore in our opinion considered shaky science.
It is strongly recommended that this statement is removed and research from domestic experts is used to assess specific risks to specific species in the Banyule local government area.

2. It is a concern that the discussion paper included reference to the Threatened Species Recovery Hub, as this organisation presents heavily assumption-based estimates for domestic cats, mostly originating from feral cats, and presents these as “facts”.
It is strongly recommended that Banyule Council team consults with a range of domestic cat experts such as the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation.