The George Municipality kindly asks all dog owners to keep their dogs safely contained or on a leash during refuse collection

The George Municipality kindly asks all dog owners to keep their dogs safely contained or on a leash during refuse collection.

A number of incidents have led to our officials being attacked by dogs while doing their duties. A dog’s instinct is to protect its home and family and coupling this instinct with a noisy refuse truck and several individuals in its territory, even a friendly dog could bite.

A request is made to all dog owners to take responsibility for their pets on the days that the refuse is being collected. Keep dogs indoors, behind a fence, or on a leash for the safety of the refuse workers and other members of the public.

According to Richard von Willingh, Manager: Law Enforcement, pedestrians and other dogs are also being regularly attacked by dogs who are allowed onto streets without proper supervision and being on a leash, or the property is poorly fenced off or the animals somehow finds an escape route to the public areas.

A portion of the Bylaw Prevention Public Nuisances and Nuisance from Keeping Animals states:

20. Control of dogs (1) No person who owns or keeps a dog may – (a) permit a bitch on heat to be in a street or public place without supervision; (b) urge a dog to attack, worry or frighten any person or animal unless in self-defense; (c) keep a dog if the premises is not adequately fenced to keep such dog inside when it is not on a leash; or (d) permit a dog – (i) to trespass on private property; (ii) to constitute a hazard to traffic using any public road; (iii) to constitute source of danger or injury to a person outside the premises on which such dog is kept; or (iv) to be a source of danger to employees of the municipality entering such premises for the purpose of carrying out their duties.

A notice to the effect that a dog is kept must be displayed in a conspicuous place. (e) keep any dog which interferes materially with the comfort, convenience, peace, or quiet of neighbours by- (i) barking, yelping, howling or whining; (ii) charging any vehicles, animals, poultry, pigeons or persons outside any premises where it is kept; or (iii) by behaving in any other manner.

(2) The municipality may seize and impound a dog which is found in a street or public place in contravention of the provisions of this by-law. (3) A dog impounded in terms of subsection (2) may be released to the owner upon payment of a fee determined by the municipality. (4) A person who contravenes a provision of subsection (1) commits an offense.

A fine of R1000 is applicable if people do not adhere to the regulations set out in the bylaw.

For the full bylaw click on the link:

For any further information or complaints please contact the Law Enforcement office on 044 801 6350 (7.45am-4.30pm) or 044 801 6300 (a/h)(standby team for bylaw-related emergencies only).

The public can also email [email protected] with complaints or related matters.

The physical address of the Law Enforcement Office is 25B Cathedral Street.

The Garden Route SPCA, George telephone number is 044 878 1990.