IMPORTANT: Get to know your dog by-laws
As a dog owner or a resident of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) how much do you know about, Dog Licence By-laws in your jurisdiction?
The GTM dog by-law outlines what dog owners are allowed or not allowed to do with regards to public safety, liabilty charges and transfers processes etc.
If you are thinking about getting that new dog for you or a friend, here are somethings you need to take into consideration before committing to it;
Liability for the Charge:
The Dog Charge/Licence Bylaw of GTM in Chapter Two Section (2.1) states that;
No owner may keep a dog which is six months or older within the jurisdiction of the municipality unless such dog has been registered at the municipal offices and the prescribed charge in regard to such dog has been paid.
Meanwhile Section 2.(3) of the same chapter states that, the charge is an annual fee and must be paid on or before 31 January of each
year in respect of each dog.
According to this law it means if you have a dog which you have not registered ownership of it to the municipality, you basically don’t have a legal right to owning the dog.
It also explains how those who pay their liability fees will be given a receipt and the receipt lapses at at 24h00 on 31 December following the date of issue.
Have you ever had questions about wether if it was legalor not for dog owners to leave their dogs running around the streets or leaving the gate open without chaining it?
Public Safety:
According to Public Safety Section13(1) in Chapter Four of the Dog charge/ License by-law;
No owner may permit his or her dog to be at large in a street or public place unless it is kept on a leash, chain or other type of harness and under control of a person.
Section 13(2) states that, no owner may permit his or her dog to escape onto other properties.
Meanwhile 13(3) says, no owner may permit any dog which is dangerous or vicious or suffering from any contagious or infectious disease, or any bitch on heat, to be in a public place.
Section 14 of the public safety states that owners are required to place a warning at the entrance of the property where a dog is kept to warn visitors about the presence of the dog.
So what happens to people who don’t follow the rules and regulations stated above, that is when penalties come in.
Also read: Legislation on pets will be enforced in Tzaneen
“,It is a great concern to the SPCA, regarding the safety of the animal. Responsible people travelling with their animals usually do so inside their private vehicles, or on the back of a vehicle with a canopy.
If they are on the back of an open vehicle some do fasten their dogs to prevent them from jumping off. Unfortunately we are not aware of any by-law stating for pet owners who travel with their pets on the back of an open vehicle.
The SPCA however, is opposed to this kind of transport regarding animals on unsafe vehicles. The SPCA also stand firmly against the chaining of dogs, which is cruel and can be prosecuted under the Animal Protection Act 71 of 1962.
Living in a town or outskirts of a town, any person who do have dogs as pets, must have a proper fence to keep their pets confined to prevent them from straying the streets or be a danger to the community,”Potgieter explained.
“I urged all pet owners within the Tzaneen jurisdiction and surrounding areas to keep their pets in their yard as per by-law that states clearly that no domestic animals are allowed to roam the streets at any time and that the penalties regarding stray animals are quite extreme and the community should be aware of it,” she concluded.
Penalties:
Chapter Six of Penalties states that; Any person contravening any of the provisions of these by-laws is guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding R2000-00 or in default
of payment, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months, or to both the fine and imprisonment.
For more information on more of the by-laws visit www.greatertzaneen.org.za.
