Tzaneen’s dog dilemma: Rising population, lax enforcement
GTM faces a growing problem with uncontrolled dog populations, leading to noise nuisances and community complaints, despite having bylaws in place.
TZANEEN – The increase in the population of dogs per household and the Greater Tzaneen Municipality’s (GTM) inability to deal with it has become a major problem in town.
Even though the GTM have bylaws in place for the safety and well-being of both dogs and the community, the regulations are hardly ever enforced.
One of the bylaws requires all dogs to be licenced and registered with the GTM to keep track of the number of dogs in the area.
A resident who owns a rental house in Aqua Park said that her tenants regularly move out after a few months because of the uncontrolled barking of her neighbour’s six dogs.
Vutivi Makhubele, GTM spokesperson, said residents are only allowed to have two dogs and they must be licenced.
“If anyone has more than two dogs, they can be reported to the GTM and the SPCA will visit the premises depending on the situation,” she said.
The bylaw on pets and dogs also states that “no owner or resident may keep any dog which creates a disturbance or a nuisance to other people by constant or excessive barking, howling or whining”.
