Community members are urged to familiarise themselves with the laws pertaining to animal welfare.
The Pit Bull Federation of South Africa (PBFSA), Underdogs SA, the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) or any other animal welfare organisation may not remove a dog on a chain, provided there is a reasonable explanation for the dog being on a chain and all the conditions are met.
The Animal Protection Act No. 71 of 1962, under offences in respect of animals, states that any person who confines, chains, tethers or secures any animal unnecessarily or under such conditions or in such a manner or position as to cause that animal unnecessary suffering or in any place which affords inadequate space, ventilation, light protection or shelter from heat, cold or weather is guilty of an offence.
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There are, however, exceptions that are made provided these have been verified with a senior inspector from the NSPCA.
If your yard is not adequately fenced off, or there is no wall or gate, exceptions are made for a dog being on a chain.
The chain has to be a runner, the dog has to have access to water and food, it must have enough space, and protection from the sun (shade). The shelter needs to protect the dog from heat and cold and there needs to be good ventilation.
The PBFSA will go so far as to say that should a chain spot be near a wall, the dog must not be able to get over the wall and hang itself.
Should a dog be on a static chain, the SPCA will remove the dog.
The Act is not a law set out by the NSPCA, but is in the hands of the lawmakers.
No matter how strongly many may feel about a chained dog, if there is no suffering, and the conditions are met, the law is then very clear that there is no cruelty and the animal can’t be removed.
Benoni SPCA chairperson Shelley Owens said: “We do not condone chaining of animals. We believe that every single animal is entitled to the Five Freedoms.
“These are internationally recognised among animal welfare organisations worldwide.”
The Five Freedoms are:
• Freedom from hunger and thirst (food and water). All animals deserve access to clean water and a well-balanced, nutritious diet.
• Freedom from discomfort (shelter)
• Freedom from pain, injury and disease (medical care)
• Freedom to express normal behaviour (exercise)
• Freedom from fear and distress (love and understanding)
The City Times spoke to Owens about the chaining of dogs.
How prevalent is the chaining of dogs in Benoni?
Chaining of dogs is extremely common in Benoni, from the wealthier middle-class suburbs to the local townships, where, sadly, it is more prevalent.
How many dogs has the SPCA confiscated due to them being chained up this year?
I cannot give you specific figures on dogs confiscated for chaining as invariably there are other reasons for confiscation.
Roughly speaking, it’s about three out of 10 complaints we attend to.
Generally, we try to educate people on not chaining their dogs first and then take further action if required. However, there some circumstances where, for example, people do not have walls to contain the dog.
In cases like these we suggest what’s called a running chain (the SPCA movement does not agree with this method) where the dog is connected to a cord pegged in the ground some metres apart from another adjoining peg in the ground. A holding chain is connected via a collar.
This at least gives the dog some movement for exercise and to gain access to its kennel or drink water and get its food.
Some people just cordon off a piece of property, for example, between boundary walls that are barely large enough for the dog to turn around. This is wrong.
Why do people chain up their dogs?
Inadequate property perimeter fencing.
Ignorance, fear of the animal, fear of the dog being stolen. Dogs can be naughty and want to explore. Non-castrated dogs can smell a female on heat from a long distance and want to get to her.
Huskies are notorious for getting out and wanting to run and run.
Some people chain their power-breed dogs such as pit bulls to prevent them from fighting among each other.
What can owners do to avoid chaining their dogs?
There are always accidents when people leave gates open unintentionally and a dog wanting to explore will get out.
Owners can provide proper training so that the dog listens to commands. They can also make the dog’s environment happy and secure so that it will not want to run away.
Some breeds need a lot of exercise, so regular walks (also great exercise for us humans) and games should be played.
A lot of people put double gates on their driveway, so when a visitor comes the dogs are locked in the rear of the property, thus minimising the risk of the dogs getting out.
Dog poisonings
Whether you have a six-foot wall and electric fencing or razor wire and cameras, criminals will still throw poisoned meat over the wall to neutralise your dog and attempt to gain entry to your property.
“We advise strongly to keep dogs at the rear of the premises where there is less chance of them being poisoned.
“Keep dogs in at night, supervise their toilet business before bedtime and do not leave them to explore, as this is when tragedy strikes.
“Keep your area vet’s emergency telephone number on hand and act quickly.
“Check your property for untoward pieces of meat. If you find any, remove it with gloves and dispose of it safely, not in the bin or toilet.
“Take the package to a vet or the SPCA for safe disposal.”
Dogs in cars
Owens has also raised her concern about the prevalence of animals being locked in cars in Benoni.
She referred to an article written by the NSPCA which states that dogs suffer and die when their guardians make the mistake of leaving them unattended in a parked car.
Parked cars become death traps for dogs because there is no proper ventilation and temperatures soar, which could lead to heatstroke, which could be fatal.
Symptoms of heatstroke include heavy panting, profuse salivation, a rapid pulse, lack of co-ordination, collapse and loss of consciousness.
Residents who see an animal locked in a car should immediately, attempt to find the owner, take down the details of the car and call the SAPS or EMPD.
“Invariably, by the time we are able to get there the problem is resolved or the owner has left the parking lot.
“We take down any details or obtain photos that may be provided. We ask the SAPS or EMPD for assistance with the registration details so we can pay an educational visit to the owner,” said Owens.
Residents are urged not to take matters into their own hands and break car windows as they themselves can face criminal charges for damage to property.
Residents can contact the Benoni SPCA on 011 894 2814 (office) or emergency after hours on 073 511 2261 when they see any animals locked inside a car.
