WODONGA residents will be asked whether they want all cats placed under permanent house arrest and what do they know about dog attacks.
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The council has launched a survey that asks if a 7pm-7am moggie curfew should be extended around the clock.
The council’s business services director, Trevor Ierino, said many survey questions mirrored the action of other councils.
“The Yarra Ranges Shire has a 24-hour curfew and it works for them,” he said.
“It is worth the council getting feedback on what they think of the idea.”
Mr Ierino said with so many residents owning pets, it was essential there were responsible rules in place.
He said there had been few complaints about cats with only 20 fines issued last year.
The community should be the council’s eyes and ears on these issues, he said.
Cat owner Jacqueline Purslow said she would back a 24-hour curfew if it was necessary.
She said the key to any curfew would be policing it and she believed the existing curfew was not being obeyed by some.
“I hear cats out and about at 3am and it bothers me,” she said.
“I have reported the issue to the council and nothing has been done about it.”
Mrs Purslow said the cost of registering a cat with the council had risen from $8 to $30.
“I don’t feel like the council is giving us good service for the extra cost,” she said.
Melrose Animal Hospital’s Dr Rohan Goyne said while he could see the benefits of a 24-hour curfew pet owners would resist it.
“People are set in their ways and I don’t know if they would change their habits,” Dr Goyne said.
“Without community support, the council will struggle to police any changes,” he said.
Mr Ierino said the survey also sought information on dog attacks.
“Only a few dog attacks are reported in Wodonga and we want to know whether there are attacks not being reported,” he said.
The aim of the survey was to make Wodonga a pet-friendly city.
