BCC declares war on stray dogs

Gibson Mhaka
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) intends to introduce a tie-up order where stray dogs will be shot as part of efforts by the local authority to reduce the spread of rabies and control the growing population of dogs roaming the streets.
The local authority has over the years implemented the dog tie up order to control the number of stray dogs and reduce the spread of rabies.

Packs of vicious dogs are often seen in almost all residential suburbs roaming aimlessly and scavenging for food.
The city’s by-laws prohibit dog owners from allowing their dogs to roam outside their premises without restraints.
According to the latest council minutes, Ward 2 Councillor Adrian Redani Moyo raised concerns on the increase in the number of stray dogs in the city saying there were a lot of other dog bites which had not been reported.

“Councillor A R Moyo raised concern on the increasing number of dog bites in the city. There were a lot of other dog bites which had not been reported. The number of stray dogs in the city was increasing,” the minutes read in part.
Clr Mercy Furanayi echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of public awareness campaigns and strict enforcement of dog control by-laws.

She said first the local authority should issue notices to residents through various communication channels, including social media. She was also concerned about residents who took their dogs for a walk in public spaces, as this was affecting other residents.
However, Ward 11 Clr Susan Sithole raised concerns about the negative public reception of previous tie-up orders.

She stressed the importance of effective communication and transparency throughout the process.
“A lot of issues were raised during the tie-up order campaigns. Residents had claimed that council had not communicated about the exercise in time.

“The use of firearms at night affected residents. Councillors were informed when the order was about to be carried out. The tie-up order was very necessary to reduce the population of stray dogs,” she said.
Ward 17 Clr Sikhululekile Moyo also supported the tie-up order, saying residents should also be encouraged to keep their dogs in fenced properties and stick to the required numbers as prescribed by the dog control by-laws.

In response the assistant director of health services (environmental) explained that while a tie-up order could be implemented, it would require careful planning and co-ordination with various stakeholders.
“A tie-up order was a multi-stakeholder activity. First there was a need to engage all stakeholders.
“The previous tie-up order done from 23 February to 22 April 2015 produced the desired results but however, there were issues of insurance that surfaced. These needed to be looked into.”

The official also emphasised the importance of adhering to the city’s dog control by-laws, saying that only two dogs should be kept in high-density properties and not more than four dogs could be kept in low-density areas.
He said breeding of dogs required a license and added that residents taking their dogs for a walk were required to put a leash on them.