A homeowner’s security footage captured a controversial moment in Westbrook, Queensland, back in 2022, when a Toowoomba Regional Council worker appeared to lure a cat from a driveway—before issuing a $280 fine for a roaming pet.
The video, recorded on the property of Julie and Steven Stephens, shows a council officer in high-visibility uniform approaching the driveway with a clipboard. Off camera, two cats can be heard or seen reacting to her presence. The worker then stepped backward toward the street, appearing to draw one of the cats out to the footpath. Once the cat followed, she picked it up and walked to her vehicle across the road.
Steven Stephens, who watched the event unfold on his security system, rushed outside to intervene. He managed to retrieve the cat before it was impounded—but not before being slapped with a fine.
The incident was one of several disputes the couple had with council officers over their pets—eight dachshunds and at least two cats. Before leaving, the worker reportedly told Mr. Stephens she would return with police to seize all but two of their dogs, citing local pet limits.
Mr. Stephens acknowledged they exceeded the legal dog limit by six but explained his wife depended on the animals for emotional support following a traumatic car accident that left her with severe injuries and ongoing mental health issues.
“She needs those animals,” he said. “They help with her anxiety.”
The couple was so distressed by the encounter, they began looking to sell their home and move to a larger property in the bush.
At the time, Toowoomba Regional Council stated they would review the worker’s body-worn camera footage. The council also reminded residents that, under Queensland law, pets must remain confined to their property at all times.