Gauteng won't regulate barking dogs
2012-12-11 10:04
Johannesburg - Gauteng authorities have dismissed the idea
of introducing municipal by-laws to curb dogs barking similar to those in Cape
Town, it was reported on Tuesday.
In Cape Town, dog owners who allow their pets to bark for
more than six minutes an hour can be fined.
Terence Mashego, Tshwane mayoral committee member for
community safety, said a by-law of that nature would be inappropriate.
"A barking dog is a natural thing, a creation of God.
You cannot apply a municipal regulation to it," Beeld quoted him as
saying.
Warning letters
Nthatisi Modingoane, spokesperson for the Johannesburg metro
council, said the barking of dogs was governed by Gauteng noise control by-laws,
and city regulations governing cats and dogs.
The by-laws made provision for the delivery of a warning
letter to pet owners.
Modingoane told the newspaper there were no plans to adopt
legislation anything like that in Cape Town.
"Any noise can be regarded as noise pollution," he
said.
City of Cape Town mayoral committee member JP Smith said the
city received about 500 complaints a month about incessantly barking dogs.
Bernice Jaffe, an animal behaviour specialist from Cape
Town, said continuous barking was often an indication of boredom.
- SAPA
