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Report animal-related offences

<div class="ExternalClassF615C3F1DCA842B0AFB14C562100DB3E"><p>The Cape of Good Hope SPCA, as the custodians of the <a href="https://www.gov.za/documents/animals-protection-act-22-jun-1963-0000" target="_blank">Animal Protection Act<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>, and Law Enforcement, as the guardians of the City's by-laws, share responsibility for responding to animal-related complaints. Find out more about how the City manages and protects the interests of animals and residents in Cape Town below.</p></div>

<span> <h2 class="sectHeading">About</h2></span> <p>All animals should be respected and treated properly. It is our responsibility to control any animals in our care, and to ensure that they are kept <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/safety-in-the-home/animal-safety-in-the-home/pet-health-and-safety-in-the-home">healthy and safe</a>. </p><p>The City’s <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Animals%20By-law%202010.pdf">Animal Keeping By-law, 2021</a> guides the management and protection of animals in Cape Town, including: </p><h4>The numbers and types of animals that may be kept on a property</h4> <span> <div class="mobile-scroll"><br> <table style="width:557px;"><thead><tr><th style="width:244px;">Type of property</th><th style="width:149px;">Number of dogs allowed</th><th>Number of cats allowed</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:244px;">Unit</td><td style="width:149px;">Two</td><td>Four</td></tr><tr><td style="width:244px;">House (<600 m² erf)</td><td style="width:149px;">Three</td><td>Four</td></tr><tr><td style="width:244px;">Large house (>600 m² erf) <br> </td><td style="width:149px;">Four</td><td>Four</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1" style="width:244px;">Agricultural property</td><td rowspan="1" style="width:149px;">Six</td><td rowspan="1">Six</td></tr></tbody></table></div></span> <p>If you want to keep more animals on your property, you must <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Licences-and-permits/Business-and-trade/Apply-to-keep-animals">apply to the City for a permit</a>. </p><p>Until further notice, applications for animal-keeping exemptions can be directed to <a href="mailto:Llewellyn.Grove@capetown.gov.za">Llewellyn.Grove@capetown.gov.za</a>. </p><h4>Animal abuse or cruelty to animals</h4><p> No person may intentionally or negligently terrify, distress or harm any animal. </p><h4> Animal fighting </h4><p>Dogfighting is illegal in South Africa. No person may breed, train, buy or sell an animal for the purpose of fighting another animal. It is a criminal offence to provoke an animal to attack another animal. A person found guilty of any involvement in dogfighting is liable for a fine of R80 000 and/or imprisonment of up to 24 months with a criminal record. </p><h4>Sterilisation </h4><p>All dogs and cats (male and female) over six months of age must be sterilised, unless you have a permit from the City to keep an unsterilised animal. </p><p>Until further notice, applications for sterilisation exemptions can be directed to <a href="mailto:Llewellyn.Grove@capetown.gov.za">Llewellyn.Grove@capetown.gov.za</a>. </p><h4> Unlawful sale of animals </h4><p>It is illegal to sell or offer to sell an animal without permission from the City –</p><ul><li>in a street or public place; </li><li>in or from a movable structure or vehicle; </li><li>at public markets; and </li><li>online or through social media platforms or outlets.</li></ul><h4>Displaying or exhibiting an animal for show or financial gain </h4><p>It is against the law to exhibit an animal for show or financial gain in a public space or road, unless you have a permit issued by <a href="https://www.capenature.co.za/permits/wild-animals-in-captivity" target="_blank">CapeNature</a><i class="icon link-external"></i>. This includes the use of an animal for begging or fundraising purposes. </p> <span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Removal and impoundment of animals</h2></span> <p>An owner or person in charge of a premises that is found to be in violation of the provisions of the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Animals%20By-law%202010.pdf" target="_blank">Animal Keeping By-law </a>will be issued with a notice. Any work stipulated in the notice must be completed, to the satisfaction of the City, within a specified time period. If not, the owner or person in charge of the premises is considered guilty of an offence. </p><h4> Most notices are issued for the following reasons: </h4><ul><li>Failure to ensure that a dog or cat over the age of six months is sterilised </li><li>Keeping more than the allowable number of animals, over the age of six months at dwelling (house) </li><li>Failure to prevent any animal from attacking, worrying or frightening any other person or animal </li><li>Failure to ensure that a dangerous animal does not escape from the premises where it is kept </li></ul><h4>An authorised City official may seize and impound an animal that:</h4><ul><li>is a stray and roaming in areas where it is a danger to itself or others; </li><li>has been involved in an attack on a person or other animals; or </li><li>has been abused or neglected and the owner has failed to comply with the requirements of a notice.</li></ul> <span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Report</h2></span> <h4>Contact the SPCA: </h4><ul><li><em>Email: </em><a href="mailto:inspmanager@spca-ct.co.za"><em>inspmanager@spca-ct.co.za</em></a><em> </em></li><li><em>Telephone: </em><a><em>021 700 4158</em></a><em> / </em><a><em>021 700 4159</em></a><em> (during office hours) and </em><a><em>083 326 1604</em></a><em> (after hours) </em></li><li><em>Online: </em><a href="https://capespca.co.za/report-cruelty/"><em>https://capespca.co.za/report-cruelty/</em></a><em> </em></li></ul><h4>Contact the City’s Animal Control Unit:</h4><p><em>Telephone:</em><br><a><em>021 596 1999</em></a><em> (24/7, toll free) / </em><a><em>0800 225 669</em></a><em> </em></p><p>You can also contact a <a href="https://web1.capetown.gov.za/web1/LostPetsOnline/Pages/ContactUsList.aspx" target="_blank">Registered Animal Organisation (RAO)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> or call the City’s Public Emergency Call Centre on <em> </em><a><em>107</em></a> from a landline or <em> </em><a><em>021 480 7700</em></a> from a cellphone. </p><h4>Report animal noise (repetitive barking, whimpering or howling) </h4><ul><li> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Report/Report-noise-pollution/Report-a-noise-disturbance">Report noise online</a></li></ul>

Find out more about animal-related offences and the correct procedures to follow when reporting.