A government representative told the Queensland Parliament that the laws will help reduce the number of animals euthanized in the state. “Our plan will help ensure that all owners take responsibility for cats and dogs in their care,” said local government minister Warren Pitt.

The law also mandates that spayed or neutered cats and dogs must be tattooed to show they’ve been desexed. However, spaying and neutering isn’t required for pets other than dangerous dogs or restricted dog breeds. A Queensland representative says independent expert Dr. Linda Marston reported that “there is insufficient data to prove or disprove that mandatory desexing reduces the number of unwanted cats and dogs.” A two-year pilot study will give the government information about spaying and neutering and its impact on the pet population for future decisions.