Media Release
14 November 2019
The state government yesterday tabled amendments to the Cat Management Act 2009 but it has failed to propose changes to stop roaming owned cats.
The TCT Director Peter McGlone said "The state government is intent on allowing owned cats to freely roam to kill and injure wildlife, spread disease to stock and to be a nuisance to neighbours."
"Owned cats that are allowed to roam freely devastate native wildlife just as effectively as feral acts."
"A lot of people say to us that pet cats should be treated the same as dogs and we agree."
"It is an offence for a pet dog to roam off the owner’s property or be in a public place and not under effective control - and the owners can face hefty penalties if the dog is caught. Cats should be treated the same."
"There will always be a minority of cat owners who will not voluntarily contain their cat and we need laws that can punish them with a hefty fine for doing so."
"The government's inaction will handicap community cat trapping and cat rescue programs by making community volunteers responsible for returning roaming cats to their owners. If cat owners don't take responsibility for containing their cats they should be fined".
The government's legislation will be debated when parliament resumes in two weeks time and the TCT urges all concerned people to sign our petition calling for roaming cats to be made an offence.
http://www.tasconservation.org.au/stop-roaming-cats
Further comment:
Peter McGlone
Director
Tasmanian Conservation Trust
0406 380 545