Improving animal control in the City of Kwinana

Residents of the City of Kwinana feel that Animal control within the City is ineffective. They do not feel heard by their council and have not received effective support via City Assist. An escalation in the number and severity of attacks on animals and people must be met with increased attention and intervention by the City of Kwinana. Please sign this petition to show your support for improved enforcement of local and state animal control laws (including the Dog Act 1976 [WA]) and for Council and City of Kwinana to engage in transparent community consultation to address the problem of dangerous dogs and ineffective animal control.

By signing this petition, you are asking for the following actions to be immediately undertaken:

1. Formal communication will be provided to the residents about what actions have been and are being taken in light of the savage killing of 'Indiana' the Bates family cat, in her home on Monday, 27 February 2023. 
2. Recognition of the escalation in cat deaths and disappearances in the Wellard/Kwinana/Leda area. 
3. Arrangement of a community forum to discuss residents' concerns and explore pitfalls and plans for current animal control policy. 
4. A formal commitment to investigate, assess and remedy current animal control processes that are lacking within the City of Kwinana. 

Problem

Recently the City of Kwinana has seen a significant number of dog attacks resulting in the death of pets (cats), many cats going missing, reports of children being attacked and seriously injured by roaming dogs, and increased reports of residents being menaced by roaming dogs. 

Five family pet cats have been eviscerated by roaming dogs this year. To our knowledge, no reasonable action has been taken to prevent or deter the owners of these dogs from allowing their animals to roam. 

The City of Kwinana has not acknowledged reports of residents being harassed and menaced by roaming dogs despite the danger they present. In some instances, mothers with prams have been endangered, and residents have been forced to lock themselves inside their cars. 

In addition, residents within the City of Kwinana are not offered effective intervention and assistance by the City of Kwiniana Rangers when help has been sought to address problems with nuisance or dangerous animals. Similarly, the number of rangers available and their available times are inadequate for a city of this size.

When questioned, City Assist (Kwinana Rangers) staff report that they cannot be more effective as they are under-resourced and hamstrung by policy and procedure. Examples of inadequate responses to residents include:

1. Asking a resident to trap a dangerous do in their garage or backyard.
2. Asking residents to purchase cat traps at their own expense to capture nuisance cats on their property. 
3. Telling residents that they will disclose their identity to an owner of a nuisance animal on the first interaction. 

The situation has escalated to the point where residents are taking it upon themselves to patrol streets they believe dogs are located. This vigilantism is highly disruptive and damaging to the community. However, this is a result of residents not feeling heard by Council. 

This is the first set towards the citizen lead remediation of animal control within the City of Kwinana. We thank you for your support and lock forward to working with Council to address these issues.

Summa Bates    Contact the author of the petition