Strict new cat laws to be introduced by Marion Council
A southern suburbs council is poised to become the first metropolitan council in SA requiring cat owners to lock up their pets at night.
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Marion Council is set to become the first metropolitan council in South Australia to introduce a cat curfew.
At its meeting this week, the council decided 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.
Mayor Kris Hanna said the by-law would effectively ban cats from wandering at large between 9pm and 7am.
“While this law will be welcomed by many in the community, we recognise there are some cat owners who will be unhappy with a curfew,” Mr Hanna said.
“We know from our community consultation that many responsible cat owners already confine their pets indoors at night.
“Some cats, however, cause a nuisance to neighbours and threaten wildlife.
“We are planning a campaign to educate the community if the changes are approved.”
The new by-law – which will now be sent for approval to state parliament’s Legislative Review Committee – has attracted mixed reactions.
The council undertook community consultation on the proposal in May and of the 400 people who responded online, 74 per cent of people were in favour of a curfew.
People said they were sick of cats urinating on their property and killing wildlife.
However, others said it was “absolute madness” and would encourage cruelty towards cats.
The RSPCA supports a curfew but has raised a number of concerns about the by-law.
In his submission to the council, RSPCA chief Paul Stevenson said the council handing out cages to members of the public was a “major concern”.
“Even the best practice use of well-designed traps cannot fully alleviate the significant welfare risks associated with trapping cats,” he said.
“Traps should not just be provided to members of the public from council offices but rather delivered to residents where authorised officers could properly demonstrate humane use of the traps.”
Mr Stevenson warned that animals could be caught and left for days in the heat or with no food and water.
He said the council needed to develop a code of practise for use of the traps with penalties for residents who failed to adhere to it.
Mr Stevenson added that the by-law would not address the issue of unowned cats and said that the RSPCA did not want to have bear the cost of rehoming extra cats as a result of the council catching them and dropping them on their doorstep.
Flinders Ranges, Whyalla and Mt Barker councils have curfews as part of their cat by-laws.
If the Legislative Review Committee approves the by-law, it is expected to be adopted later this year.