Casey Council officers threaten to seize indoor cats in Botanic Ridge leaving owners devastated
A pet owner relocated to Botanic Ridge two months ago unaware of an obscure local law banning cats as pets — even indoor cats. Now she’s fighting to keep her beloved moggies, battling her council and appealing for community support.
South East
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A cat-lover has been ordered to rehome her three pets or surrender them to Casey Council because she’s in breach of a no-cats local law.
The Botanic Ridge woman rented the property she lives in two months ago and says no one told her cats were banned from the entire suburb, even if they were kept indoors.
A shocked Stacey Lee Ghirxi told Leader, she and her housemate received a knock on the door from council officers on Tuesday, December 17, saying she must “urgently rehome” Panda, Squeak and Willow.
“We just can’t believe this. Our cats are everything to us. We have been renting here for two months and we weren’t advised of this prior to moving in,” Ms Ghirxi said.
“Our cats never go outside, we take good care of them and this is just the most ridiculous law.”
According to Casey Council’s website owners are not permitted to keep a cat if they live in Botanic Ridge or Settlers Run Estate, including cats that are kept indoors.
“These two areas are close to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne. The gardens are home to many native and endangered animals, including the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot. “Cats are natural predators and are a danger to these native animals. Dogs and other animals are not a threat to these native animals,” the council said on its website.
Ms Ghirxi said she was also furious someone had reported her to the council.
“Someone saw my cat in the window and reported me. I think that’s just so wrong as we’re responsible owners.”
She said she had started a change.org petition, calling on the council to change its laws.
“I want people to sign the petition as the laws need to change. We deserve to enjoy the company of our cats in our home and no council has the right to take this away from us.”
“We’re absolutely terrified of losing them. If I can’t keep them I would be devastated but would move from this area to another just so I can keep them but I hope that is not the case.”
South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter manager Michele Phillips, who has spoken out on enforcing 24-hour cat curfews and rescues more than 2500 animals a year attacked by cats, said protecting wildlife was a priority.
“There should be a 24-hour cat curfew in this area but the problem with this is that some people do abuse these laws,” Ms Phillips said.
”We are losing so much wildlife – so I understand why the council has enforced these strict laws.”
Casey Council Statutory Planning and Building Services manager Duncan Turner said the restriction was in place to help protect the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot that inhabits the local area.
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“The information regarding the restriction is available to any person buying land in the estate via the Section 32 documents provided by the vendors and on the City of Casey’s website,” Mr Turner said.
He said signage was also displayed at every road entrance into the estate to help inform residents who may be new to the area.
“Any person keeping a cat within the estate, that council becomes aware of, is provided with an opportunity to rehouse the cat within a 30-day time frame.”