Governments in Queensland and Tasmanian have taken steps to limit the large number of dogs and cats being abandoned and subesequently euthenised each year.

In Queensland, four councils will come together to pilot a program to tackle the problem.

During the two-year trial program, Gold Coast City Council, Logan City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council and Townsville City Council will explore options to reduce the number of cats and dogs that end up at animal shelters across the state.

Queensland Local Government Minister, Warren Pitt said Queensland and the Northern Territory are the only states without mandatory registration and identification of cats and dogs.

“This has created a situation where thousands of cats and dogs are being destroyed each year. As a government, we have to help our councils and other stakeholders address this serious issue,” he said.

“It’s needless and senseless, and we have got to do more to put a stop to it.”

The Queensland Government has allocated $380,000 to support the trial programs, which could include encouraging identification, neutering, as well as collecting baseline data to closely monitor the number of animals put to sleep.

The Tasmanian Government is also developing a cat management program, launching a position paper, Cat management in Tasmania – Taking the initiative.

Tasmanian Primary Industries Minister, David Llewellyn said in one Hobart animal welfare facility alone, around 2,500 deserted cats are received each year. Of these, 20 per cent are re-homed, leaving 40 cats per week requiring euthanasia.

The State Government said there is an estimated 150,000 stray and feral cats in Tasmania, and the spread of the parasite toxoplasma gondii, which is carried by cats, is threatening the state’s native animals.

The Tasmanian community is being asked to provide input into the development of the cat management strategy, and to consider the approaches explored in the paper by September 26.

Copies of the paper are available at www.dpiw.tas.gov.au.

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