Cat by-law: RSPCA warns Marion Council of animal cruelty risk
RSPCA chief executive Paul Stevenson has warned Marion Council that handing out cat traps could lead to animal cruelty if it is not managed properly.
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The RSPCA’s chief executive, Paul Stevenson, has warned Marion Council of a “real risk” of animal cruelty if its proposed cat curfew is not managed properly.
Marion is proposing to introduce a by-law requiring cat owners to lock up their pets from 9pm to 7am.
Under the plan, the council would supply cages so people could catch any cats wandering on their property during the curfew.
Inspectors would be empowered to collect the trapped animals and then warn owners or hit them with a fine of $187.50.
If owners cannot be identified, cats could be impounded at the RSPCA.
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Mr Stevenson said the council was on the right track with the curfew but there was a ”real risk” of animal cruelty if traps were provided to people without training or penalties for misuse.
He said the traps should not just be “dished out at the counter” and instead animal management officers should take them out and train people how to use them correctly.
”Animals could be caught and just left there for days with no food and water,” Mr Stevenson said.
“We are suggesting the council develop a code of practice with a provision for fines and penalties.”
Mr Stevenson said it was important the council not “vilify” cats as the RSPCA already saw more abuse towards cats than any other animal.
“It’s too easy to demonise and vilify cats,” he said.
“There’s got to be cat management but our fundamental concern is that it has to be humane and respectful of cats as living creatures.
“Two thirds of the animals our rescue and ambulance service picks up is cats.”
He said the curfew had to be accompanied by an education program on responsible cat management because “the best thing for cats” was for their owners to keep them contained.
Mr Stevenson added that a “piecemeal” approach would unlikely have a major impact on the number of nuisance cats and that a statewide plan was needed to address the problem.
Additionally, he said the RSPCA did not want to bear the cost of rehoming extra cats as a result of the council catching them and dropping them on their doorstep.
The RSPCA and the Animal Welfare League currently rehome about 10,000 cats each year in South Australia.
It costs about $1000 to rehome a cat including desexing, microchipping and vaccinating it.
On Tuesday night, Marion Council voted to confirm with the Dog and Cat Management Board that it has the legal authority to bring in a by-law.
In June, Gawler Council sent draft by-laws to the board requesting permission to kill cats that were not collected within three days.
Campbelltown Council is also considering introducing a by-law to control cats.