Matsapha Town Council calls upon all dog owners whose pets are either lost or abandoned and roaming wild on the streets of Matsapha to remove them with immediate effect.
The Public Health Act of 1969 section 11 (k) identifies dogs that are so kept as to be or likely to be offensive or injurious to health, as a public health nuisance. Stray dogs are a growing public health threat because of the following reasons:
- Dogs that are out by themselves could cause accidents when they run onto the road and may also lead to injuries to themselves and other people.
- Stray dogs are usually more vicious to humans, and unpredictable compared to domesticated and supervised dogs.
- Stray dogs tend to scavenge for food in garbage receptacles which leads to refuse being scattered along the streets.
- Stray dogs enjoy moving in packs, which may lead to a threatening feel to humans and uncontrolled reproduction, thus worsening the issue.
- They tend to howl and bark, especially when there is a fight with other dogs. This could be annoying, loud, and disruptive to the neighbourhood.
- They may also spread diseases such as rabies (a fatal viral disease that can be passed to humans through the saliva/ bite of an infected animal).
Failure to comply with this notice, the authority will have no option but to remove such dogs. For any further information, please contact Council’s Environmental Health & Community Services Department at + 268 2518 6637/8285
