PET PERMITS

We all got to get them, Yeah that’s right in Johannesburg a new by-law was passed that states that we all need to get permits for our animals and we are only allowed to have a certain amount of pets per property but now obviously this varies depending on where one lives. And when I say pets this means cats and dogs. For a normal freestanding home one is allowed to have up to four dogs/cats or two cats and two dogs. So people like me who on the property where I reside there is two big dogs, one small dog and seven cats. It used to be nine. Now I hear you saying nine how on earth? But everyone knows how a child brings home a pet now imagine three children so yeah...

So now they say if you apply immediately for this permit and you do it before the 1st of July 2010. Afterwards these permits will then be R485 per permit. This is a once off fee. This permit cannot be transferred between premises or between people the permit has been issued to. So now if I move into my own property then I will need to apply for a permit for my one dog and two cats.

Apparently they won’t be sending out municipal workers to police and monitor this new law. But they expect our neighbours to report any miss conduct they suspect. And then they will come and investigate you and if found guilty of not conforming to this new by-law one can find quote,

”A person is liable on conviction to a fine or in default of from the by-laws of payment to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further dine not exceeding R50, or in the continuance of such offence after written notice has been issued by the Council and served on the person concerned requiring the discontinuance of such offence.”

Now some may find this new by-law a bit of a nuisance but I think this could be a good way in taming the amount of pets one has in a home and with this can probably bring down the amount of abandoned and or abused animals out there. This will also help with the sterilization of the animals which is very much needed as a way for controlling the amount of diseases we can catch, the amount of animal hearts broken. And never mind those poor animals that don’t get picked to go home when they at the pet store or SPCA. I know the SPCA has strict rules on checking properties before allowing animals homed but sadly this is not the case at the Pet stores. So hopefully this will pick up the loose ends that are missed there. And remember this has been brought in for the safety of us and the precious friends who live in our homes. For further information on this go to http://www.joburg.org.za/