The Mossel Bay Municipality has been inundated with
complaints regarding members of the public walking their dogs without the
required leashes. Strict action is planned against owners walking dogs without
leashes in terms of the by-law relating to the regulating of the keeping of
dogs.
The abovementioned by-law which was published in Provincial
Gazette 6678 determines that no person shall allow, cause or permit any dog
owned, entrusted to, under control or kept by such person to be in any public
road or public place except on a leash and under control of some responsible
person.
It further determines that no person shall allow, cause or
permit any dog owned, entrusted to, under control or kept by such person which
is ferocious, vicious or dangerous to be in any public road or public place;
unless it is muzzled and held on a leash and under control of some responsible
person.
“Public Place” and “Public Road” is defined as follows:
·
‘‘public place’’ means any road, street,
thoroughfare, bridge, trail, pavement, alley square, open place, garden, park,
or open space in the area of
·
jurisdiction of the Municipality to which the
public has free access or at any time zoned or been declared or rendered such
by any competent authority;
·
‘‘public road’’ means any road, street or
thoroughfare or any other place which is commonly used by the public or any
section thereof or to which the public or any section thereof has a right of
access, and includes—
(a) the verge of any such road, street or thoroughfare;
(b) any footpath, sidewalk or similar pedestrian portion of
a road reserve;
(c) any bridge, ferry or drift traversed by any such road,
street or thoroughfare;
(d) any other work or object belonging to such road, street
or thoroughfare, footpath or side walk; and
(e) any premises with or without structures thereon, used or
set aside as a public parking area or public parking place for the parking of
motor vehicles whether or not access to such a parking area or place is free of
charge.
Owners of dogs are requested to refrain from contravening
these provisions. The Mossel Bay Municipality may enforce the provisions of the
by-law in the municipal court, if owners are found in contravention.
Members of the public can consider the following actions.
• Should a
dog create an immediate threat and proceed to attack, the victim can open a
case with the South African Police Service. This may serve the victim should
any future complications arise from the attack.
• Members
of the public experiencing a nuisance with regards to dogs exhibiting
persistent behaviour that creates a nuisance, for example barking incessantly,
can assist municipal law enforcement officers to take action against dog owners
by placing their experiences on record with as much detail as possible in the
form of an affidavit. Such evidence can assist the municipality in their
investigations regarding a complaint laid.
Complaints can be reported to 044 606 5000. It must be noted
that although municipal law enforcement officers attend complaints with
necessary diligence, they may at arrival not experience the same as the
complainant, which is why it is advisable to keep record and add as much
details of the complaint as possible in a format that may be presented in
court.
