Cat Act fine sparks anger

A Broadwater cat owner has hit back at the fines associated with WA’s new cat ownership laws which are being rolled out across the State.

The Cat Act was welcomed by animal welfare groups after it passed Parliament in November 2011, requiring compulsory identification through microchipping, registration and sterilisation.

At the time, former Local Government Minister John Castrilli said the laws aimed to reduce the number of unwanted cats euthanised each year.

Provisions under the first phase of the act came into effect in November to help local governments prepare for its full implementation, slated for this November.

However, Broadwater resident Pauline Edwards said she was shocked when she received a letter from the City of Busselton this month outlining the laws and the $5000 penalty for any infringement.

“A fine of $5000 is ridiculous,” she said.

“My issue is people who do drug deals in town, bash people to death and do crimes of this nature get less than that.”

Ms Edwards said the letter also failed to identify the $5000 fine as a maximum penalty and this was being used as a “scare tactic”.

She said she supported compulsory sterilisation, but microchipping was an added cost.

“For some families they cannot afford that. And the likelihood of the cat being picked up and identified is minimal,” she said.

Department of Local Government director-general Jennifer Mathews confirmed $5000 was the maximum penalty which could be imposed by a magistrate for non-compliance.

Infringement notices could also be issued, which would only have a penalty of $200.

Ms Mathews said the Department was working with representatives from the local government sector and animal welfare groups to ensure the changes were effectively communicated to cat owners before the legislation took effect.

Busselton Veterinary Hospital’s Belinda Cussons said she understood why people with cats that never left the home may not support microchipping, but the overall benefits were overwhelming.

She said the cost of microchipping a cat was $71, but a half-price special would be available in April to encourage people to comply with the new laws.