A REVOLT is under way on Coochiemudlo Island over a crack down on roaming cats and dogs.
Islanders argue there has been a concerted door-to-door Redland City Council push on cats and dogs, with locals copping fines of more than $300 for letting dogs run on beaches.
Retired veternarian David Paxton has been spearheading the revolt, which began after a Redland City Bulletin article in November about the visit by the federal government’s Threatened Species Commissioner Gregory Andrews who complained there was virtually nowhere on the island that did not have the footprints of dogs and cats.
Mr Andrews called for the removal of feral cats and for better education of locals about how roaming pets impacted on endangered species and migrating birds.
Mr Paxton said the idea of a crackdown was flawed and objectionable and bylaws had been written without considering the nature of dogs, cats and their keepers.
“There is a group of conservatives who would like to see this island free of dogs and cats altogether to prevent personal frictions and harm to wildlife,’’ he said.
“...I think this is simplistic thinking because dog and cat companionship is an evolved need in a significant proportion of human beings… A healthy and vibrant human community is one where this need is recognised and managed.’’
Mr Paxton said conservatives had the ear of Cr Lance Hewlett, who voted to begin the crackdown and cause grief to most of his constituents.
“This simplistic thinking ignores the proof that removing the cat, in particular, from the environment leads to an upsurge in rats and mice,’’ he said.
In some places, removal of cats had seen an upsurge in the number of rats which also preyed on birds.
Mr Paxton said the real issues were development of koala habitat west of the city and the desire of the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation to exert its authority.
Cr Hewlett said door knocking was the same as was under way on the mainland in a campaign announced in December.
Council attitudes were the response to substantial complaints from residents about roaming and destructive domestic pets.
Cr Hewlett said many people believed their loose dog or cat did no harm but complaints to council were that other ratepayers and visitors were frightened by animals bounding up to them.
“I’m a dog lover myself but I’ve been attacked twice by dogs left off-leash,’’ he said.
Island Coastcare group spokeswoman Vivienne Roberts Thompson said council did a good job in trying to balance pet ownership and wildlife.
She said it was not unusual for island wildlife to suffer more from the impacts of unrestrained domestic pets than on mainlands and council was doing no more than most other councils around Australia.
