Feral cat in the Border Ranges, once home to a large spotted-tailed quoll population.
Photo © WPSQ - taken on a quoll survey

Wildlife Queensland welcomes the announcement of a new trial to reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs in 4 local authority regions, but Queensland’s oldest wildlife conservation organisation wants the state government to introduce stronger laws across the State to reduce the impact on native wildlife.

'Unrestrained pets are one of wildlife’s biggest threats,' said Des Boyland, Wildlife Queensland spokesperson.

'We urge the State Government to make cat and dog registration and neutering mandatory, consistent and enforceable across Queensland,' he said.

'This is the best way to reduce the number of dogs and cats that impact on wildlife.'

While not ignoring that loss of habitat through human activity is the biggest threat to Queensland’s native wildlife, Wildlife Queensland supports an enforced standard of pet registration right across Queensland:

• compulsory tagging and identification;
• registration of cats as well as dogs;
• microchipping of animals sold commercially; and
• compulsory neutering (with an exemption for commercial breeding stock).

'The trials in Logan, Moreton Bay, Gold Coast and Townsville are a good start but it’s time that Queensland updated its regulations for responsible pet ownership. We are the last state to take this necessary step,' said Des Boyland.

The four local authorities, each of whom received $380,000 to fund its trial, has different regulations and charges pertaining to cat and dog registration and ownership.

More about uncontrolled cats and dogs that kill wildlife.

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, call us on +61 7 3221 0194 or send us an email.