Dog licences may return, animal welfare organisations sceptical

A draft environmental by-law on dog ownership has local animal welfare organisations scratching their heads about how it would be implemented and policed.

The draft is now open for public participation and can be viewed at all City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) Customer Care Centres and selected libraries, and is being widely shared by ward councillors.

Annie Jungmann, founder of The Animal Guardians (TAG), and Jacques Cronje, manager of the Benoni SPCA, have weighed in on the debate, asking for clarification on licence fees, confiscation and classification of dangerous breeds.

The purpose of the by-law is to enable the CoE to exercise control over the number of dogs that may be kept by any person, breeding, control by owners, impounding of strays and the prevention of nuisances through the keeping of dogs.

The document further indicates the Department of Health and Social Development and EMPD will be responsible for its implementation.

“As advocates of animal sterilisation, we fully support the draft, which would require all domesticated dogs to be sterilised and fully vaccinated,” said Jungmann.

“However, how will this be implemented and monitored?”

Cronje stated compulsory sterilisation will have a positive impact on the challenges faced by welfare organisations.

“Population management will go a long way in reducing the amount of unwanted litters ultimately surrendered to organisations such as the SPCA, which are already buckling under pressure,” he said.

“However, I fear imposing licensing fees could lead pet owners to surrender their animals due to not being able to afford it. Fees have, to date, not yet been determined.”

The by-law will further set out to limit the number of dogs kept per household.

It currently stipulates the following:
• Flats, not more than two dogs over the age of six months.

• House, three.

• Large house, not more than four.

• Agricultural property, six.

It further stated that written consent from the city, subject to additional conditions, will be imposed to allow an unspayed bitch to be kept on any premises.

Properties, where dogs are kept, will further have to be fenced and secured following the stipulations contained in the document.

It further stated all dogs must have collars and tags indicating the owner’s contact details or must be microchipped.

“On paper, the determinations make sense. Yet, they don’t specify whether those tasked with implementation are knowledgeable in animal care,” said Jungmann.

“This is a specialised field and blanket decisions cannot form the cornerstone of how it will be put into practice, especially when referring to dangerous or aggressive animals.”

“Determinations regarding the temperament of dogs cannot merely be based on its breeds, because other factors must be taken into consideration,” said Cronje.

“Breed alone does not determine a dog’s character. The successful passing and implementation of this draft hinges solely on the knowledgeability of CoE staff.”

Referring to animal care and owner responsibility, Jungmann and Cronje do not believe a by-law will have any effect on the increasing cases of animal abuse and neglect.

“We have rules saying that motorists should come to a complete stop at a stop sign or red traffic light, but this law is ignored daily,” said Jungmann.

“There are officers tasked with penalising offenders. However, when last did you see a transgressor being pulled over and receiving a fine?

“I fear that regulations contained in the draft will unfortunately be viewed similarly.”

Having already done so, the two animal activists urge the community to view the draft and file their comments before the closing date for public submissions.

Comments must be sent in writing to EHby-laws.Comments@ekurhuleni.gov.za before March 31.

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