Here’s how to report a nuisance dog
Many residents might be under the impression that the SPCA should handle nuisance dogs roaming around, but this is incorrect as they can only step in after the necessary steps have been taken by the local municipality authorities.
The community is frequently tasked with reporting a pestering dog or dog attack without knowing how to do so. These reports get circulated on social media, where many keyboard warriors respond with no results.
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As a result, the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA has issued a helpful message to anyone who needs to report an animal but is confused about how.
People are often at a loss as to who to report ‘nuisance’ dog behaviour to. Many believe that it falls to the SPCA to deal with these issues,” elaborated Mandy Cattanach, manager at the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA.
To help clarify what procedure to follow and who to liaise with readers are reminded of the following:
To begin, the SPCA’s mandate is animal care and cruelty prevention, as stated in the Animal Protection Act 71 of 1962. The SPCA exists to protect all animals’ mental and physical well-being from humans. When an animal exhibits nuisance behavior, such as excessive barking, abandoning its property and roaming loose in public, chasing humans and other animals in public, biting and/ or attacking people and animals, the SPCA’s mandate is violated.
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Cattanach went on to say that these are violations of local municipal by-laws and must be reported to the local municipal authorities, police, Metro Police, JMPD, or municipal equivalent. The SPCA has no authority to investigate these crimes. The SPCA can only assist with impounding the animal when the legal procedures have been followed and a court order to impound the dog/s has been issued.
The police will attempt to refer you to the SPCA, which is incorrect,” added Cattanach.
Ensure that the matter is registered following the Animal Matters Amendment Act 42 of 1993.
Complaints about nuisance animals are handled by the local municipality in each town. This includes stray animals, animals on the street, animals causing a nuisance or harming humans and other animals, and excessive barking.
The majority of SPCAs have animal pound status, which means they are the pound for all stray animals but do not enforce Municipal Animal Nuisance By-Laws.
For any additional information or to find out if your dog has been impounded, contact the SPCA at 011 672 0448.
