FROM: VIVIENNE TOTHILL 082-606-0794

TO: All dog and cat owners, animal lovers and citizens of Joburg.

As a caring and concerned citizen of the wonderful City of Joburg, I wish to pass on information in regard to the current Johannesburg Pet Bylaws of which I have a copy and which I have read and gone into.

JOHANNESBURG DOG AND CAT BYLAWS – AND PERMIT INFORMATION FOR PET LOVERS.

JOBURG PET BYLAWS – INFORMATION FOR PET OWNERS.
I AM NOT AN EMPLOYED AUTHORITY - In the interests and love of animals and the companionship, pleasure and joy they bring to our lives and their rights, I am writing this as information as an ordinary, concerned and proud citizen of Johannesburg in the hope that it will help put people in the picture and the hope that the City Council and his worship, Mayor Masondo, will encourage people to have well cared for dogs and cats in our City - the Greater Johannesburg. N.B. THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE TELLING GOOD CONSCIENTIOUS PET OWNERS TO GET RID OF THEIR PETS – THEY SHOULD BE
ENCOURAGING THEM AND THANKING US PET OWNERS FOR ASSISTING THE OVER BURDENED SPCA’S AND ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANISATIONS FOR
TAKING A PERSONAL INTEREST AND KEEPING ANIMALS OFF THE STREETS.

These are my personal thoughts and interpretation of THE PET BYLAWS, which, being an animal lover I have read and absorbed and in particular being a pet owner, as well as a person who stands up for both human and animal rights and care, I have taken particular
note. The new bylaws in force since 1 January 2010, with particular regard to number restrictions on pets AND THE RIGHT TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT TO KEEP the PET DOGS AND CATS YOU HAVE PRESENTLY and which are an important part of your lives.
N.B. DOGS AND CATS ARE INTELLIGENT SENTIENT BEINGS, THAT PROVIDE COMPANIONSHIP, LOYALTY, SERVICE (CATS CATCH MICE AND RATS & DOGS
PROTECT, AND GUARD NOT ONLY HOMES BUT MAJOR INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE CITY CIVIC BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY, BANKS, ETC.
THEY DESERVE OUR CARE, CONSIDERATION AND THIS IS RECOGNISED IN ALL CIVILISED WORLD COUNTRIES.

Brief Background.
To put you in the picture, in 2005 I formed and represented the Concerned Animal Group and served on the City Council sub committee reviewing the restriction on the number of animals people can keep, based on the dwelling in which they reside and allowing a Permit to be issued to allow people to keep their pets.
The Bylaws were promulgated by the City Council and came into force in 2006 BUT WITH A MORATORIUM on the Restriction of numbers, which only came into force from 1st January 2010. NOW 6 MONTHS DOWN THE LINE WE MUST APPLY FOR THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO THE RIGHT JOB.
THE PERMITS MUST ALLOW GOOD, LAW ABIDING CITIZENS TO KEEP THEIR ANIMALS IN GOOD ORDER, HEALTH AND CONDITION.

PERMITS TO KEEP YOUR PETS.
I am happy to say that a Permit can be applied for, to allow people with more than the requisite number of dogs and/or cats, to be given the right too continue to keep your pets.
The PERMIT IS FREE OF CHARGE UP UNTIL THE 30TH OF JUNE 2010 – from 1ST JULY THERE WILL BE A CHARGE OF R485-00 PER HOUSEHOLD.
NOTICE TO BE DI5PLAYED OUTSIDE YOUR HOME. However, I AM TRYING TO GET DETAILS OF THE ISSUE OF THIS PERMIT WHICH DOES NOT AT THIS STAGE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS AND WHICH I WILL PUBLISH ON THE RADIO TODAY WEBSITE AS SOON AS I HAVE THEM.

IN THE MEANTIME as law abiding citizens my recommendation is to:
1. Go to your nearest Council offices, Apply for and obtain the necessary APPLICATION FORM FOR A PERMIT TO KEEP YOUR PETS AND THE NOTICE
2. Put up the NOTICE ON YOUR PERIMETER WALL OR FENCE and take note that objections from residents in the area, are required to be brought to you direct - not to the Council.
3. My suggestion is that we are considerate of our neighbours and that we care for our pets in such a way that they are not an aggravation to other people and that they are cared for responsibly, sterilized before 6 months of age, kept in clean, healthy condition, well fed, not left out in bad weather and not left to bark for hours on end. In other words given love and training and all the correct treatment they deserve and are in good, healthy condition well cared for and well nourished.

The neighbours would then be able to make up their minds if they felt that you were a good owner and not bring up any objections.

On the other hand, if you were, maybe over-breeding an under-nourished bitch and that you had too many puppies, on the property, which was not properly fenced and not kept clean and free of the faeces, etc. , then they could take you to task and your pets would possibly be confiscated, or you might be given the chance to put things in order and be given a Permit.

So make sure you are a good pet owner. If you have animals that you love and care for and that you can afford, and that maybe you rescued and love. Then apply for the permit, which is free of charge up to the 30th June, and love cherish and enjoy your animals, in the knowledge that you are being truthful and responsible.

DON’T BE AFRAID. An advocate is guiding the community and he has notified us that - No one is entitled to come along and demand to take your animals, or demand that you have them put to sleep or euthenased, providing they are, as I said earlier, happy,, healthy, well care for and are not ill or sick, badly treated, out on the streets, being used for unlawful things. If you know you are in the right and you would like to keep your animals, apply for the Permit, put up the Notice, get your pets sterilise, take them regularly to the local reputable Animal Welfare organization and the Concerned Animal Group will give you advice and put you in touch with good welfare officers and people that can help you.

At the same time, let me tell you that we have a very good group of animal lovers that have been recognized by the City Council and Environmental Health Department and will be meeting wit3h the Council to ensure that no stone is left unturned to see that the matter progresses correctly and that Bylaws are worthwhile, are beneficial to the good of the animals and the animal lovers and that there is no unnecessary harsh attitude toward people who love and care for the dogs and cats, kittens and puppies and other animals that share our environment. And that we and they have the right to live in our beautiful country and provide the companionship and joy to young and old and the therapeutic contribution that they do to the infirm and elderly.


AVAIBILITY OF PERMIT APPLICATION FORMS AND DETAILS.
If you NEED HELP ring me on 082-606-0794 or email vivt@mwweb.co.za and I or one
of my colleagues will be happy to give you advice if needed.

THE FORMS YOU NEED TO COMPLETE
If you know of anyone who is anxious please refer them to this article or give them the tel. numbers which I have listed and I and many of the Concerned Animal Group will be happy to assist them in how to handle any problems they are experiencing. Do not panic, we are all animal lovers and will give good advice to help anyone in need.
1. Application Form,
2.. Notice to be put up for 14 days, (objections to be given to the applicant in writing, to avoid their being sent by them to the Council) which is quite cooperative and means people should be neighbourly and approach each other with problems to solve amicably, and,
3 Example of a letter from Council to someone in connection with dogs.

Permit Fee.
According to the council workers explained that basically no fee had been gazetted for the current financial year so at present a Permit is free of charge until 1 July, which is the start of the new financial year and thereafter it will be R485. This according to the person he spoke to, is a once off fee. Once you apply for a Permit you are required to exhibit the
Notice on you fence or wall, visible to the public for 14 days and before issuing the Permit, there will be an inspection of the premises by a Health Inspector before a permit is issued.

Numbers
In brief form, the numbers restriction is as follows
Two dogs over the age of 6 months may be kept in a “dwelling unit” which I understand as a flat or town house type of dwelling.
Four dogs over the age of six months in premises containing one or two dwelling houses
Six dogs over the age of six months on an agricultural property or
Four dogs over the age of six months at any other premises.

These rules are superceded by the permit and the bylaw reads – Subsection 1 does not apply to any person who is the holder of a permit issued in terms of section 3 to keep a greater number of dogs, This is followed by other persons who are permitted to keep a greater number of dogs – and if you would like me to I will be happy to email the pages giving this information to you by email, or fax.

The matter is being taken up by the various bodies concerned and we will keep you informed of developments.
If you would like to become a member of the Concerned Animal Group you can send me your name, address, contact details and I will be happy to send put you on the mailing list which will keep you up to date with developments and invite you to attend meetings at which details will be discussed, for the benefit of the dogs, cats and concerned and caring
owners. and act as a good citizen and caring animal lover.

N.B. The Johannesburg Dog and Cat Bylaws are available on the City of Joburg Website AND FROM THE Council offices in each area.

Vivienne TOTHILL 082-606-0794  or email vivt@mweb.co.za
NB Vivienne is available 24/7 to help sirt out any problems
Concerned Animal Group 26 June 2010