The City of Cape Town would like to remind all pet owners to apply for any additional pets they might have (in excess of the prescribed maximum number per property) as set in the City’s Animal Bylaw 2010 before the 31 July 2012 deadline. There is no charge involved.
The Pet Registration process is in line with the City of Cape Town’s Animal By-Law of 2010 where, instead of buying an annual dog licence, pet owners are simply required to register all cats and dogs kept on their property. There is no charge for registration.
Pet owners applying timeously for more animals than they are permitted for their properties will qualify for automatic sanction/permission. Hereafter they may be fined for their excess animals and for pets without a chip, name tag or tattoo to identify them.
Pet owners applying after this deadline can be assured that their applications for more animals than permitted per property will never be unreasonably denied. The application process commenced on 1 March 2012.
The deadline for the City’s pet registration programme, which is designed to develop a database of all domestic animals in Cape Town, has been set as 31 August 2012. The pet registration process is also in line with the City’s Animal Bylaw of 2010, which prescribes registration of all dogs and cats kept on domestic properties.
This process will help the City develop accurate information on the domestic animal population in Cape Town. It is completely free. Knowing the type, breed and other information will aid in animal welfare planning and budgeting. Owners of unregistered pets may be issued a compliance notice, followed by a fine of R300. Failure to adhere will lead to any unregistered animals being confiscated and impounded under the Animal By-law. Once pet owners have registered their pets, they are encouraged to update their pets’ details in respect of new pets/pet deaths as and when they occur.
There are maximum numbers of pets allowable depending on the size of the dwelling and property.
The prescribed numbers are as follows:
The prescribed numbers are in place to prevent environments that are abusive or unhealthy for the animal and which create a nuisance for other residents.
Owners can make use of two application and registration options: online or via printed forms.
- Electronic forms can be completed on the City’s website (click on the pet registration link under ‘Campaigns and Programmes’ on the City’s website: www.capetown.gov.za) or requested from the following e-mail address: lawenforcement@capetown.gov.za
- Printed forms can be obtained from any City Law Enforcement Office or local Public Library
Applicants are encouraged to use the online registration as this will avoid errors in data capturing and will also allow for an immediate e-mail response to the applicant as proof of registration.
An application permit to keep more pets than the maximum allowable number may be declined on the following criteria:
- It exceeds the number of animals allowed
- An Animal Control Inspector (after property inspection) states concerns such as health, care etc.
- In the event of a prior conviction for cruelty or abuse of animals or in the case of persistent legitimate complaints from neighbours.
- The Subcouncil (body to authorise) might consider community input on permits
CityPetFinder
The City’s other free animal welfare related website, CityPetFinder, is aimed at re-uniting owners and their lost pets by facilitating owner contact with the animal organisations who post found animals currently in their care.
To date, in the short months since its launch, a few hundred lost pets have been returned to their owners through this medium, and the City urges owners to try this as a first resort when a pet goes missing.
Pet owners are able to search CityPetFinder to see if their lost pet is located at any one of Cape Town’s registered animal welfare organisations. Conversely, the organisations will be able to use the website to determine whether any of the animals in their care have been listed as lost pets.
Currently a team of 20 of the City’s Law Enforcement Officers are responsible for addressing animal complaints from members of the public and impounding lost or stray animals. The lost or stray animals thus impounded are accommodated at an animal shelter (including the City’s pound in Atlantis) for a minimum period of ten days or until their owners claim them. The cost of this accommodation is borne by the City.
Identifying the owners of animals is very difficult and often happens at a slow pace, if at all. Often the animals end up being left in pounds for lengthy periods. This new electronic system seeks to ensure quicker recovery and shorter stays at pounds and shelters.
CityPetFinder is also to be found at www.capetown.gov.za
Those without internet access can still use the CityPetFinder website via the Smart Cape internet facilities at City libraries.
Alternatively they can contact one of the organisations to log the pet on their behalf.
