MORE than 90 per cent of cats impounded in Corangamite Shire were euthanised in the past year.
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The figure comes after the release of council’s Draft Domestic Animal Management Plan 2017-2021.
The plan quoted 2016 data which showed an over population of cats in the shire with 93 per cent of cats impounded by council euthanised.
In contrast the euthanasia rates of dogs taken to the pound was 8.2 per cent.
“In 2016 only three of the 100… cats impounded by Corangamite Shire were reclaimed by their owner,” the plan stated.
The plan stated there were a significant number of cats that were either feral or semi-domesticated. In 2016 there were 1058 registered cats and 1205 in 2015. The data showed there were 3104 registered dogs in the shire in 2016 compared to 3466 in 2015. In 2016 there were 58 dogs impounded compared to 111 in 2015.
The plan stated there had been a drop in the number of unregistered dogs impounded in the past few years. It stated the main reason for the decline was the use of social media to return dogs home without the use of council to identify the animal.
There was also a low number of dog attacks reported to council, with three dog on dog attacks, four dog on person attacks and five dog on livestock attacks.
The plan stated the low level of reporting could be due to the minor nature of some attacks and because the victim was known to the animal owners.
In 2016 there were three dogs classified as a restricted breed, six as dangerous dogs and three as menacing dogs. A dangerous dog is one declared by the council because it has caused the death or serious injury to a person or animal while a menacing dog has caused a non-serious bite injury or has rushed at or chased a person.
The plan also stated the failure of dog owners to pick up dog droppings was regularly raised with council.
“Council is currently undertaking follow up inspections with regular early morning and late evening patrols,” the report stated.
Submissions on the plan close on November 22.