Paws & Claws presented a petition with 600 signatures to the Douglas Shire Council requesting DSC to do anything necessary to ensure their survival.

With the Homeless Animal Society managing the search for a potential new building site and the Douglas Animal Welfare Group managing the operations of the facility, Paws & Claws continues to receive community support. 

“Council is also very supportive and are doing everything in their power to assist,” said President Michael Kerr.

The significance of the Paws & Claws shelter in the Douglas Shire is recognised as playing a vital role in re-homing unwanted and sometimes very neglected dogs and cats which can arise from careless breeding.

Currently DSC website states that allowing your dog or cat to breed without a permit can result in a fine of $589.  A permit can be obtained by lodging an application with Council and costs $282.35.

The public is also reminded that in Queensland anyone giving away or selling a cat or dog must have the animal microchipped if not fines are incurred.  Failure to register your dog with DSC will also incur a fine.

Recently the Queensland government conducted a public consultation on puppy farming and the result shows that Queenslander’s strongly support tougher regulations on puppy farms.

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Bill Byrne said “the community had spoken and the vast majority agreed that new regulations are needed to safeguard puppies and breeding dogs in Queensland.”

“The government’s proposed registration scheme for puppy farms includes support for breeder identification numbers to be inserted on dog’s microchips and to be displayed where dogs are sold,” said the Minister.

While puppy farms are under the microscope on a national level, from a local perspective it will only be a matter of time before anyone selling puppies, where profit is put above their welfare, will be identified.

“As with any industry, there are those people that do the right thing and those that don’t,” added the Minister.

Paws & Claws currently has limited space to house dogs and cats waiting to be adopted.

Currently DSC will contact Paws and Claws and depending on the condition and health of the animal and the space available, it has the potential to be re-homed.

Asking Mr Kerr where the general public needed re-educating, he said it is definitely around unnecessary breeding, stating that some owners just refuse to desex their pets.

As a scary reminder Mr Kerr said “if an animal is not microchipped it has three days to be claimed before it is put down and five days to be claimed if it is microchipped.

Mr Kerr stated that though Paws & Claws has received some negative opposition with unsubstantiated complaints being lodged with RSPCA, Dept of Agriculture & Fisheries Biosecurity and Australian Charities & Not-for-profits Commission, they continue to maintain momentum in their search for a new facility.  He stated that the petition will be presented at the next DSC meeting on 29th September.