Millions of pet owners urged to do one thing as major change looms for households
There is just over a week remaining for millions of pet owners to have their say on laws that impact them, as several organisations band together to urge changes to cat ownership rules to prevent the domestic animals killing wildlife. Potential changes could see homeowners forced to overhaul their homes and habits if they own a cat.
The NSW government is reviewing the Companion Animals Act 1998 — legislation that outlines the rules and requirements of pet ownership in the state, as well as penalties for not abiding by them. Wildlife charities such as the Biodiversity Council, Nature Conservation Council and the Invasive Species Council (ISC) are unanimous on their stance that cats should not be allowed to roam outdoors in NSW.
"Hundreds of thousands of roaming pet cats are sending our suburbs silent but, unlike in almost every other state, NSW councils cannot implement basic cat curfews due to barriers in archaic state laws," Jack Gough from the ISC told Yahoo News.
The ISC is encouraging Aussies to provide feedback in a similar vain to the public inquiry and the hope is the Companion Animals Act 1998 will be amended to stop cats from roaming outdoors, at the very least during the night.
"This inquiry brings with it a real opportunity to get serious about protecting our wildlife from one of the biggest drivers of extinction in this country," Gough said.
The last day for submissions into the public injury is May 4.
In Sydney and around Australia, 70 per cent of cat owners allow their cats outdoors and this has devastating consequences to wildlife. In Sydney alone, an estimated 66 million native animals are killed by roaming cats every year and the national figure is extraordinary at 323 million.
There has long been calls for tougher restrictions on cat ownership to curb this issue and while many other states and territories have introduced rules, legislation in NSW currently doesn't allow councils to do so.
"Councils across the state are crying out for this amendment so they can protect their local bushland from the enormous impacts of roaming pet cats," Gough said. "This is a stark contrast to the ACT which requires residents to contain their cats, or Victoria where over 50 per cent of councils have introduced cat containment laws.
"Owning a pet cat should come with clear responsibilities to ensure your pet is not roaming around killing our native birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs."
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Advocates pushing for cats to remain indoors say it's a win-win proposal as it protects wildlife but also increases the average lifespan of a cat as those who stay indoors are estimated to live 10 years longer than those who roam, according to the Cat Protection Society of NSW.
"A cat kept safely at home will live a longer life, pick up less diseases and is less likely to get injured in car accidents, dog attacks or cat fights, and they have far fewer vet bills," Gough said.
While the precise number of pet cats in the state is unclear, there are more than 4.7 million dogs and cats kept as pets in NSW. The review will also look at implementing recommendations from the coronial inquest into dog attacks.
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