Tshwane drafts pet by-laws but has no capacity
The City of Tshwane has admitted that it does not have the capacity to enforce its proposed pet by-laws.
The new by-laws stipulate that no person be allowed to keep more than three dogs or three cats older than six months in a residential area.
It also states that no person may keep a dog if it creates a disturbance by constantly or excessively barking or howling.
Failure to comply may result in a fine or even jail time.
The city's MMC for Health and Social Development, Sakkie Du Plooy, says they do not have the capacity to police the by-laws and will only act when receiving a complaint.
"We have more important things to do than go to each household and count the number of dogs. However, if there is a nuisance and a complaint is laid and we find more than three dogs then we will have to remove some," says Du Plooy.
He says the animals will not be taken away from owners by force, but the city will rather engage owners and suggest options such as adoption.
"The essence of the laws is to ensure the animals in your premises are properly kept. And these laws are meant to also protect both the animals and members of the public. Sometimes when dogs stray, they are a danger and can harm others. It's a health risk issue," Du Plooy explains.
But animal rights activist Herman H Le Roux warns this will only create more problems for animal shelters.
"We have shelters with over 1000 animals, now those shelters must absorb these animals and for what? These animals already have a home and a life, so why must a new problem be created?"
(Herman H Le Roux and the dogs at Wollies Animal Project)
He says the city should rather investigate issues around animal breeding, pet shops and the sterilisation of animals.
"The state could spend money on the mass sterilisation of feral animals. This will reduce the population and the health risk. This is also an animal rights issue-that dog that the state wants to remove, what about its rights? The problem here is that animals are not seen as sentient beings."
Public participation was solicited in seven regions in 2015, but the city council is yet to formally approve the regulations.