Municipality tells woman to get rid of her dogs
For 10 years, Zaitoon Ebrahim has been living with her dogs in her flat without any problem.
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But, recently, the metro has told the resident of Dehli Court, in Actonville, to remove the two poodles from the flat or face consequences.
Zaitoon said this is the most painful thing she has ever been asked to do in her life, after bonding with the dogs for so long.
“I call them my babies, they are like my own children and I just can’t throw them away like that,” said the tearful Zaitoon.
She said that she had never had any complaints from her neighbours.
“My dogs, Blackie and Lady, live in the flat; they don’t go outside or run around or mess the up the place,” she said.
Most of the time she is alone in the flat and the dogs keep her company.
Zaitoon said she would eventually give the animals away, but pleaded for a chance to at least say goodbye.
The Ekurhuleni Human Settlements Department sent her a notice telling her to remove the two dogs she is harbouring in her flat and that failure to do so will lead to further action.
The City Times asked the metro why they are telling Zaitoon to get rid of the dogs now, after she has been living with them for 10 years, and when they become aware that she is harbouring the dogs in her flat?
Metro spokesman Themba Radebe said they were made aware by other tenants at the complex, primarily as a result of the disturbances caused by the dogs.
“We would like to the state that currently there are no caretakers at these complexes and, as such, it was impossible to establish that dogs are kept in the unit,” he added.
“However, in terms of the lease agreements and complex rules, no pets are allowed to be kept in the units and/or complex.”
Radebe said that all tenants harbouring pets in their units have been requested verbally and in writing to remove them, and many had adhered to the request of the municipality.
She can fight this and she should! Most large law firms have a pro.bono department that she should consult with. Totally unacceptable!
Ten years bonding with the dogs and only now the council find that to be a problem they very quick to act upon such complains from the residents about the dogs but go to them a complain about a geyser or taps that needs to be attended to you will first hear you whole history about your your arrears that you owe them before they can even help you so they so fast to react to that then the important issues regarding the well being of the flats my question is why only after ten years your want her to remove the dogs you guys at Ekurhuleni should deal with more serious issues ant not just stories the residents feed you guys.
These dogs are her companions, if the dogs are being mistreated it would be a different story but they are well cared for. Why are there complaints after 10 years? if her immediate neighbours do not have a problem with it, the dogs should be left with her.