Council has been targeting the next generation of pet owners by visiting more than 500 young students across Ipswich schools and kindergartens with staff dogs.
Health, Security and Community Safety Committee Chairperson Cr Sheila Ireland said the Pets and People Program had proved a huge success since it started in May.
“Outcomes for the students, aged from Kindergarten to Grade 6, include improved safety around animals, behaviour changes such as walking dogs and picking up poo, and improved pet care such as food, water and play,” she said.
“Students also learn about laws concerned with keeping dogs and gain an understanding of the role of a Council Animal Management Officer. The program has been running in Ipswich since May, and school sessions also include the RSPCA, local vets, Biosecurity Queensland and wildlife groups.”
Cr Ireland said it ensured the next generation of poet owners were well informed about the responsibilities of owning a dog or cat, and understanding animal welfare issues.
Council measures to keep animals under control in the community were also proving successful.
Cr Ireland said there were 48 animal penalty infringement notices issued for October – more than double for the same month last year.
And there had been 483 PINs issued for November 2016-October 2017, compared to 444 for the previous corresponding 12 months – a near 10 per cent increase.
Cr Ireland said animal infringement notices and warnings were issued “in order to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of the community generally, however these are used in conjunction with education and awareness programs to achieve positive outcomes”.
Of more than 1200 customer service requests lodged with Council for October, most were for roaming dogs, dog noise nuisance, dog attacks, unregistered dogs and dog fencing issues.
Council’s cooperative cat desexing program was proving a big hit and benefit to the community.
“The program engages cat owners, local vets and Council in a combined effort to reduce abandonment, euthanasia of unclaimed cats, cat wandering and nuisance activities through desexing,” Cr Ireland said.
“The basis of the cooperative is that cat owners, vets, and Councils share the cost of desexing for cat owners in need such as holders of pension, concession or health care cards; people on low incomes; and people with large numbers of cats.”
In February, Council approved $10,000 for the program, which had led to 177 desexing vouchers being issues and honoured.
“The cooperative desexing program represents value to the community via desexing at participating vets. Desexing of owned cats across the LGA is an identified strategy in the proposed cat management plan,” Cr Ireland said.
Council agreed to provide an additional $3000 to fund the program through 2017-18.
