Community members are invited to ‘pause for paws’ and have their say on the effectiveness of Western Australia’s cat and dog laws.
The Cat Act 2011 and Dog Act 1976 are designed to assist with the control and management of cats and dogs in WA, primarily carried out by local governments.
The cat law included mandatory microchipping and sterilisation of all cats aged six months and over, as well as registration of cats with the relevant local government.
The aim was to reduce the impact of unwanted cats on the community and environment and encourage responsible pet ownership.
Amendments to the Dog Act made in 2013 included compulsory microchipping of all dogs and stricter control of dangerous dogs to improve community safety.
The State Government is reviewing how effective these amendments have been in the control and management of cats and dogs in WA.
WA Local Government Minister David Templeman released a consultation paper exploring some key issues.
Source: WA Government