Submissions to draft by-laws for keeping dogs close on March 31 – CoE

Time is running out for residents to have their say on a draft by-law regarding the keeping of dogs.

The public is invited to have their say via email submissions by March 31.

It proposes hard-hitting measures to deal with issues like sterilisation, strays, dangerous dogs, confiscations and even the picking up of dog poop.

Owners will not be able to keep a dog unless it has a collar showing the dog’s name and phone number of the owner or a microchip with all information of the owner or reference to an animal welfare organisation.

ALSO READ: City urges property and business owners to comply with by-laws to avoid fines

Council may levy a dog licence fee for each dog kept on the premises, the amount of which will still be determined.

This by-law, known as the By-law Relating to Dogs 2018, applies to all persons, including organs of state, within the municipal area of the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE).

It revokes all previous by-laws regarding the keeping of dogs.

The aim is to enable the CoE to exercise control over, inter alia:

• The number of dogs kept by any person

• The breeding of dogs

• Control over dogs by their owners

• Impounding of stray dogs

• The prevention of nuisances through the keeping of dogs

Proposed restrictions for dogs over the age of six months are:

• Two dogs at a flat

• Three dogs at a house

• Four dogs at a large house

• Six dogs at an agricultural property

• No dogs allowed on business premises where food or food products are handled, prepared, served or manufactured.

These limitations won’t apply to persons/businesses such as pet shops, SA Guide Dog Association-related dogs, veterinary clinics, registered breeders, pounds, kennels or the SAPS/SA Defence Force, but these bodies will have to have permits.

A person whose permit has been cancelled or who has had a dog removed from their care or has a criminal or civil judgment against them in respect of an animal in their care won’t be allowed to keep a dog unless the council determines otherwise.

ALSO READ: Have your say on water service by-laws for CoE

Owners

No person will be allowed to, among many other things:

• Allow a bitch on heat to be in any public street or place.

• Urge a dog to attack or frighten a human or other animal.

• Fail to pick up dog faeces they are responsible for and dispose of it.

• Let a dog bark, and whine continuously.

• Keep a dog which is starved, denied water or without adequate shelter.

• Have a dog in public if it is not on a lead, unless it is in a council-designated free-running area.

• Keep a dog on premises that is not fenced adequately.

• Keep a dog that does not have a collar with ID or a microchip.

Rights of CoE authorised officials:

• May enter any premises to carry out inspections or exercise any powers in terms of the by-law.

• Can impound any dog found on the street and apparently without its owner, vicious dogs found in public places without proper control, starved animals/other contraventions.

• The CoE has to keep a record of all dogs seized.

• Can sterilise male or female dogs at the request of the owner, subject to payment of the costs by the owner.

• May demand a dog be sterilised when deemed necessary.

Dog poop

The by-law proposes no person is allowed to let their dog cause a nuisance by leaving excrement on the sidewalk, street, park or other public or private place.

Owners will be expected to carry plastic bags in which to place the dog poop when walking their dog.

Comments should be emailed to the CoE at EHby-laws.Comments@ekurhuleni.gov.za.