Skip to content

Search

Menu

 

 

Pet health and safety in the homePet health and safety in the home<img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Pet%20health%20and%20safety%20in%20the%20home%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /><div class="ExternalClass26B240510D4D4E1AAF9819263CA6C89B"><p>Domestic pets are tamed animals that are kept by owners in the home for companionship or pleasure. Pet owners have to be responsible and treat pets well.</p></div><h2 class="sectHeading">​​​​​​​​​​​​Register your pet​​​​​​​</h2><p>​Most Capetonians keep cats and dogs, but pets can also include sheep, pigs, goats, cattle, birds, donkeys, horses, fish, and domestic rodents. Please follow our rules and guidelines for keeping them in your home.    </p><h4> Registering your pet is important, and legally, you have to.</h4><ul><li>Pet registration is a requirement 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, 2021</a>.</li><li>It helps us to develop accurate information on the domestic pet animal population in the city.</li><li>It allows us to manage the re-homing of lost animals better.</li><li>Information about pet types, breeds, and other statistics helps us plan and budget for animal welfare.</li></ul> <span> <div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic"> <i class="info citycard">​​</i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Register/Pets-and-animals/Register-your-pet/Register%20your%20pet">Register your pet</a></p></div></div></span> <h2 class="sectHeading">​​​​​​​​​​Treat your pet well​​​​</h2> <span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info remember">​​​</i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Remember</h4><p>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. To report any animal fighting or other animal offences, call the Public Emergency Call Centre: dial <strong> <em>107 </em></strong>from a landline or <em><a>021 480 7700</a></em> from a cellphone.</p></div></div></span> <p>All pets should be treated with respect, whether they are your own or somebody else’s. </p><h4>A pet needs the following: </h4><ul><li>To be loved and treated fairly</li><li>Companionship and not to be teased or harassed – this makes them distressed</li><li>Food and clean water that is filled daily</li><li>Plenty of space to move around (depending on the size of the pet)</li><li>A healthy environment that is cleaned regularly of poop and fleas and ticks</li><li>Healthcare from a registered veterinary clinic for vaccinations, regular check ups and when they are ill</li><li>Activity to stay physically and mentally healthy</li><li>Safe surroundings to make sure they can’t wander outside the premises</li><li>Training to be able to live well in a human household and community</li><li>Shelter to keep warm in cold weather and shade from the sun in hot weather </li></ul> <span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info note">​​​</i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Please note</h4><p> <b>Report an abused animal​​: </b> If you suspect someone is mistreating their pets, please report it to the SPCA via their <a href="https://capespca.co.za/report-cruelty/" target="_blank">website<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>. You can also contact the Public Emergency Communications Centre (PECC) on <strong><em>107 </em></strong>from a landline, or <em> <a>021 480 7700</a></em> from a cellphone.</p></div></div></span> <p>You can read more about animal cruelty on page 26 of our <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Animals%20By-law%202010.pdf" target="_blank">Animal Keeping By-law</a>.</p><h2 class="sectHeading">​​​​​​​​​​Aggressive pets in the home​​​​​​​</h2><p>Aggressive pets can be dangerous. It is important that you handle an aggressive pet in the right way, especially if you have small children or strangers in your home. </p><h4>Know the signs. An aggressive pet will often show the following behaviour: </h4><ul><li>Still and rigid body</li><li>Harsh threatening sounds</li><li>Charging a person</li><li>Growling</li><li>Showing teeth</li><li>Snarling</li><li>Snapping</li><li>Vicious biting</li><li>Shaking</li></ul><h4>If your pet is being aggressive, you should: </h4><ul><li>remain calm and gentle in dealing with an aggressive pet, as hard as it may be;</li><li>keep your distance and move out of the pet’s territory slowly whilst not making eye contact with them; </li><li>analyse the situation and ask, “what could be causing this aggression?” – is your pet stressed?;</li><li>try to reduce the stressors which can calm your pet down; and</li><li>if you can’t control your pet, try to get it into a separate space, like a room or a yard, and call a professional trainer or vet for help.</li></ul> <span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info toptip">​​​</i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Top tip</h4><p>In some cases, it might be helpful to hire a trainer to help reduce your pet’s aggression.</p></div></div></span> <h2 class="sectHeading">​​​​​​​​​​Sick pets in the home</h2><p>Very much like aggressive pets, dealing with sick pets can be difficult. Often, sick pets can act strangely or become aggressive so it is important to be aware and cautious of what might be bothering them. If there is more than one pet within a household, sick pets should be separated into different areas to make sure no illnesses spread. </p><span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info note">​​​</i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>rabies prevention</h4><p>If you have been bitten, scratched or licked by an animal that you think may have rabies, wash all wounds with soap or detergent and flush thoroughly for at least 15 minutes with water; apply ethanol or a similar antiseptic to prevent secondary infection; then <strong>seek immediate medical treatment. You need to start post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) as soon as possible.</strong></p><p> <br> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/personal-health/infectious-and-chronic-diseases/rabies">Find out more about rabies</a>.</p></div></div></span> <h4>Signs of a sick pet</h4><div><ul><li>Loss of appetite</li><li>Vomiting or diarrhoea</li><li>Decreased energy levels</li><li>Coughing</li><li>Stiffness</li><li>Itchy skin</li><li>Excessive drinking or urinating</li><li>Dry or red eye</li></ul></div><p>​If a pet shows any of these signs, contact or visit a vet immediately.</p>​ <span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info toptip">​​​</i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Top tip</h4><p>If you come into contact with a sick pet whose owner you do not know, approach with caution and call the City’s Animal Control Unit on <em> <a>021 596 1999</a></em> (24/7, toll free), <em> <a>0800 225 669</a></em> or an RAO.</p></div></div></span> <h2 class="sectHeading">​​​​​​​​​​Taking your dog into public places</h2><p>If you own a dog, it is your responsibility to make sure it is safe and well taken care of at all times. You are also responsible for making sure it is not a risk to others.</p><h4>As a dog owner or caretaker, legally, you may not: </h4><ul><li>provoke, harass or tease any other dog;</li><li>urge a dog to attack, worry or frighten any other person or animal;</li><li>keep any dog which causes damage to public property;</li><li>ignore dog poop in public spaces;</li><li>keep any dog which barks, yelps, howls or whines for more than 6 minutes in an hour or more than 3 minutes in a half hour;</li><li>keep any dog that is starved, lacking water or shelter;</li><li>keep any dog that causes a nuisance to anyone else in the neighbourhood (dogs cannot run or charge after vehicles, animals, poultry, pigeons, or people in a public space);</li><li>keep any dog that is misbehaving in any other way;</li><li>allow any dog to be in a public place if it is suffering from mange or any other infections or contagious diseases (and you cannot prove that the dog is under treatment by a registered veterinarian);</li><li>allow a dog which officials have assessed as vicious or dangerous, to be in a public place without being muzzled humanely and on a lead/ leash;</li><li>allow a dog to trespass on private property;</li><li>allow a dog to disrupt traffic or endanger drivers; and</li><li>keep any dog that does not have a collar or microchip with a name, telephone number and physical address of the owner. </li></ul> <span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info note">​​​</i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Please note</h4><p>If your dog poops in any public place, you must remove the waste and place it in a plastic or paper bag to throw away in the bin. All owners or dog walkers must carry plastic bags when walking their dog.</p></div></div></span> <p>Familiarise yourself with local rules or restrictions that apply to walking dogs in public areas such as parks and beaches. You can usually find this information on signboards in the area. </p> <span> <h2 class="sectHeading">​​​​​​​​​​Lost pets​​​​​​​</h2></span> <p>If you have rescued a lost pet, check if there is a name and/or contact details provided anywhere on the animal, usually there is a name-tag on the collar. Alternatively, take the animal to a  <a href="https://web1.capetown.gov.za/web1/LostPetsOnline/Pages/ContactUsList.aspx" target="_blank">Registered Animal Organisation<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> or ask that it is collected within 24 hours after rescuing it. </p><p>If you have lost your pet, see <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/local%20and%20communities/community-health-and-safety/animal-safety-in-the-community/find-your-lost-pet">Find your lost pet</a>. </p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info remember">​​​</i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Remember</h4><p>Approach strange dogs with caution and be warm and friendly if trying to check if they have a collar. Call the City’s Animal Control Unit on <em> <a>021 596 1999</a></em> (24/7, toll free) <em> <a>0800 225 669</a></em> or a RAO if you don’t know what to do. </p></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Sterilisation​​​​​​​</h2><p>Sterilisation of all dogs and cats (male and female) over six months of age is a requirement 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, 2021</a>, unless you have a permit from the City to keep your animal unsterilised. </p>GP0|#0653ca90-1bac-46a8-b0fe-c2466935fa23;L0|#00653ca90-1bac-46a8-b0fe-c2466935fa23|Pet health and safety in the home;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#c054577a-77b9-486b-9566-b8d2cb87c2b9;GPP|#df0a3405-0ca1-4617-8047-15a034219fee;GPP|#245ec7aa-a528-4cd3-bcac-597c292db711Treat your pet well and know the rules about keeping domestic animals0

 

 

Animal Keeping By-law, 2021Animal Keeping By-law, 2021792610GP0|#d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284;L0|#0d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284|By-law;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2021-12-08T22:00:00Z
Animal Keeping Policy, 2021Animal Keeping Policy, 2021750979GP0|#ecf0e702-25db-4c12-bbc2-be85db2304fd;L0|#0ecf0e702-25db-4c12-bbc2-be85db2304fd|Policy;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2021-06-20T22:00:00Z
Environmental Health By-lawEnvironmental Health By-law499216GP0|#d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284;L0|#0d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284|By-law;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2003-05-31T22:00:00Z

 

 

You have disabled JavaScript on your browser.
Please enable it in order to use City online applications.