Cats By-Law 2022

Update 10 May 2023

Community Engagement Outcomes

At its meeting on 16 August 2022 following significant consideration, discussion and Community consultation, Council resolved to make and gazette the Cats By-Law. The By-Law was gazetted on 25 August 2022.

The by-law was then reviewed by the State Government's Legislative Review Committee. Council will implement the by-law on 1 June 2023.

Further information about the By-Law and its requirements, as well as a list of updated Frequently Asked Questions is available from Council's website.

Public consultation process

Following receipt of feedback from the Dog & Cat Management Board, Animal Welfare League and RSPCA in regard to its draft Cats By-Law (refer Council agenda 3 May 2022), Council undertook consultation with its Community on the By-Law from 27 May to midnight 1 July 2022.

Consultation outcomes included:

• The statistically validated survey resulted in 70% of the 403 people interviewed by an independent company advising that they were very supportive or supportive of the Cats By-Law (with the current provisions):
  • 42% of these respondents advised that they were aware of the Cats By-Law (with the current provisions) with residents aged 45-64 years and those who own one or more cats advising higher levels of awareness
  • 58% of the respondents claimed to have unwanted cats coming onto their property frequently or occasionally. Of the 326 respondents that claimed to have unwanted cats coming onto their property, their most common experiences were spraying/urinating (46%), fighting with other cats (45%), defecating (44%) and noise (41%).
• Email and letter submissions from 173 participants:
  • 46% of all individual submissions supported the By-Law being implemented
  • 40% of all individual submissions did not support the By-Law being implemented
  • 13% of all individual submissions were neutral or had mixed views about the By-Law being implemented
  • The 5 organisations that responded objected to the By-Law being introduced.
• 132 unique petitioners (99 from the Council area) also raised objection to the By-Law being introduced.

The Community Engagement Reports available from the Key Documents section provides further information about the consultation processes and results.

Council Resolutions

At its meeting on 4 April 2023, Council resolved to 'commence the Cats By-Law on 1 June 2023 and set the Cats By-Law registration fee until at least 1 July 2024 at $0 per registered cat.'

At its meeting on 16 August 2022, Council resolved:

That:

1. pursuant to Section 246 of the Local Government Act 1999:

1.1 there being at least two-thirds of the members of Council present; and

1.2 having considered the By-Law (Cats By-Law 2022) (reproduced as an Attachment to Item 11.1 on the agenda for the meeting of Council held on 16 August 2022) in light of the National Competition Policy and the Report prepared on the National Competition Policy with respect to the By-Law (reproduced as an Attachment to Item 11.1 on the agenda for the meeting of Council held on 16 August 2022); and

1.3 having considered all submissions and recommendations made on the By Law,

Council makes the By-Law in exercise of the powers contained in the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 and Local Government Act 1999.

2. the Chief Executive Officer be authorised to sign the By-Law as made by Council.

3. the Chief Executive Officer be authorised to publish notice of the making of the By Law in the Adelaide East Herald.

4. the Chief Executive Officer be authorised to arrange for the By-Law to be published in the Government Gazette.

5. the report to the Legislative Review Committee on the By-Law (reproduced as an Attachment to Item 11.1 on the agenda for the meeting of Council held on 16 August 2022), be adopted and be signed by the Chief Executive Officer on Council’s behalf.

6. the Chief Executive Officer be authorised to arrange for the By-Law and all other necessary documentation to be provided to the Legislative Review Committee.

At its meeting on 2 August 2022, Council resolved:

That Council:

1. receive the consultation report ‘Draft Cats By-Law 2022 - Community Engagement Outcomes’

2. agree in principle to proceed with making By-Law No 6 – Cats, as previously presented and endorsed for consultation on 3 May 2022

3. request Staff to seek preparation of a legal practitioner certificate, National Competition Policy report, and report to the Legislative Review Committee for consideration prior to ‘making’ By-Law No. 6 - Cats.

At its meeting on 19 July 2022, Council resolved:

At its meeting on 3 May 2022, Council resolved:

That Council:

1. note the feedback received from the Dog and Cat Management Board, Animal Welfare League and RSPCA

2. reaffirm its draft Cats By-Law 2022 as attached to this Report for the purposes of public consultation in accordance with Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1999 and Section 90 of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995

3. endorse Staff utilising Approach C as the preferred approach to Community Engagement for this consultation.

At its meeting on 18 January 2022, Council resolved the following:

That:

1. Council endorses draft Cats By-law 2022 as attached to the Report for the purposes of public consultation in accordance with Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1999 and Section 90 of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995

2. the Chief Executive Officer be authorised to provide a copy of draft Cats By-law No 6 - Cats, together with the requisite report, to the Dog and Cat Management Board as soon as practicable

3. the Chief Executive Officer be authorised to:

3.1 make copies of the draft Cats By-law available for public inspection without charge at Council's Office during ordinary office hours, and

3.2 publish a notice informing the public of the availability of the draft By-law in The Advertiser and on Council’s website

no less than 21 days after the draft By-law No 6 - Cats has been sent to the Dog and Cat Management Board, and their response has been received.