Dog Friendly Holiday House Sunshine Coast Queensland

Dead cane toads just as toxic to dogs

A dead cane toad can be just as toxic to a curious canine as a live one, a Queensland vet says.

Dr Rod Straw, from Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre, says Queensland dog owners need to be vigilant as "toad season" returns this summer.

He says the state's unofficial mascot has been poisoning dogs in record numbers with potentially fatal consequences.

He told AAP that the toads start to infiltrate domestic gardens at this time of year.

"Many dogs are curious about cane toads and will attempt to lick them or grab them in their mouths," he said. Fresh carcasses were also toxic.

Dr Straw advised people to use the HopStop spray if they needed to control cane toads on their property. Afterwards the carcass should be disposed of in a rubbish bin out of reach of their pets.

If a pet owner suspected their dog had been poisoned they should rush the animal to a vet. "The animal can die within 15 minutes of the poisoning," he said.

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Half a million South Australian cats are homeless

MORE than half a million South Australian cats are homeless because people continue to feed strays without taking full ownership responsibility.

This has prompted calls from welfare agencies for mandatory desexing and microchipping.

The Dog and Cat Management Board estimates the state has about 590,000 homeless cats and a serious overpopulation problem.

In an effort to reduce homeless numbers, the board will launch a web-based campaign with the Local Government Association next month called Good Cat SA. It will inform people about the implications of feeding cats they do not own.

People who feed cats but do not consider themselves owners will be asked to take full ownership responsibility or offer the cat to a shelter for rehoming.

Dog and Cat Management Board executive officer Ben Luxton said cats could start breeding when only four months old and one female could be responsible for the production of 40 kittens within 12 months.

"Both owned and homeless cats can create nuisance within a community if allowed to roam," he said.

"Unconfined cats cause nuisance by spraying, fighting, yowling, defecating in gardens and can vector disease to responsibly owned and confined cats."

Last year, Mitcham Council introduced a bylaw restricting the number of cats per household - but there is no statewide regulation of cats.

Western Australia introduced legislation last November to make it compulsory for owners to microchip, register and sterilise their cats from November 1 this year.

Animal Welfare League animal care manager Leanne Page said about 80 per cent of the 7600 cats at the shelter last year were strays.

Ms Page said the shelter wanted mandatory desexing and microchipping of all cats and dogs in SA, excluding registered breeders.

"A lot of the semi-owned and stray cats that arrive at the AWL are not in good health, both physically and mentally," she said.

RSPCA SA chief executive Neale Sutton said his organisation took in more than 3000 strays in the past financial year, and urged owners to desex their cats.

Local Government Association acting chief executive Barry Parsons said the association was expected to endorse the Dog and Cat Management Board's campaign.