Moreton Bay Regional Council has been selected to participate in a new State Government trial program that aims to reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs being killed each year.

The two year trial will allow council to try a number of methods to curb the increasing number of cats and dogs being left at animal collection centres across the region.

Deputy Mayor Greg Chippendale said council was investigating a number of ways to protect domestic cats and dogs from being euthanized.

“As part of this joint program with the State Government, we are interested in all measures to tackle this problem,” he said.

“But before we implement any ‘big stick’ approach, we intend to roll out a suite of ‘carrot’ options – incentives – for people to take up.

“Council is looking at several different projects to reduce the number of cats and dogs being destroyed at our animal collection centres.

“We’ll be working closely with animal welfare organisations, conducting education programs about pet ownership, encouraging identification and desexing as well as collecting data to monitor the number of animals being euthanized.”

Local Government Minister Warren Pitt commended Moreton Bay Regional Council and other participating councils on taking part in the trial.

"The Government will support these councils in trialling these new programs and has committed $380,000 to help councils do so."

The other councils participating in the trial program are Gold Coast City Council, Logan City Council and Townsville City Council.