Report animal-related offences
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA, as the custodians of the
Animal Protection Act, 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.
About
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
healthy and safe.
The City’s
Animal Keeping By-law, 2021 guides the management and protection of animals in Cape Town, including:
The numbers and types of animals that may be kept on a property
If you want to keep more animals on your property, you must
apply to the City for a permit.
Until further notice, applications for animal-keeping exemptions can be directed to
Llewellyn.Grove@capetown.gov.za.
Animal abuse or cruelty to animals
No person may intentionally or negligently terrify, distress or harm any animal.
Animal fighting
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.
Sterilisation
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.
Until further notice, applications for sterilisation exemptions can be directed to
Llewellyn.Grove@capetown.gov.za.
Unlawful sale of animals
It is illegal to sell or offer to sell an animal without permission from the City –
- in a street or public place;
- in or from a movable structure or vehicle;
- at public markets; and
- online or through social media platforms or outlets.
Displaying or exhibiting an animal for show or financial gain
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
CapeNature. This includes the use of an animal for begging or fundraising purposes.
Removal and impoundment of animals
An owner or person in charge of a premises that is found to be in violation of the provisions of the
Animal Keeping By-law 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.
Most notices are issued for the following reasons:
- Failure to ensure that a dog or cat over the age of six months is sterilised
- Keeping more than the allowable number of animals, over the age of six months at dwelling (house)
- Failure to prevent any animal from attacking, worrying or frightening any other person or animal
- Failure to ensure that a dangerous animal does not escape from the premises where it is kept
An authorised City official may seize and impound an animal that:
- is a stray and roaming in areas where it is a danger to itself or others;
- has been involved in an attack on a person or other animals; or
- has been abused or neglected and the owner has failed to comply with the requirements of a notice.
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