NSSPCA have announced after a long time in the making, that according to the newly amended Animal Protection Act that all dogs who enter public areas, eg, dog parks and pet friendly beaches need to be muzzled at all times. This comes after a spate of attacks on innocent dogs and their owners of late. Mrs Merridath is happy with the new regulation "I believe this matter will ensure a safer dog loving society in public areas. We thank the public for their participation in this newly amended act".
Reporting Offenders
The regulation stipulates that those who do not adhere to these regulations can be reported via Whatsapp to the Enforcement Officer on call at 0824649146.
You are requested to
- send a photograph and
- pin the location
and this information will instantly be shared with the closest Law Office to follow through, and fines of up to R1000 will be given to the dog and his owner.
Regulations regarding breed of aggression
Dog owners are asked to muzzle their dogs according to breed or levels of aggression.
Friendly dogs should wear muzzles that show their non-aggressive behaviour, similar to the ones shown in the image below.
Puppies are known to not know their limits and also dogs where caution needs to be taken, must wear muzzles that limit their abilities to bite. If a dog is wearing the muzzle incorrectly, they could also be liable to be fined, so please do take care of gearing your dog up with the correct fit and muzzle.
Aggressive dogs like Dobermans, Pitbulls and Rottweiler's should wear suitable aggressive looking muzzles to warn off any possible other dogs and people. This will help both the dog and the owner 'on both sides of the fence' to steer clear from each other and will aid towards a safer experience for all in the public places.
How to Fit a Muzzle?
The muzzle should allow your dog to open his or her mouth and pant. Make sure that the dog muzzle is adjustable, so you can make it tighter or looser to fit your dog properly. To find the right size, use a tape to measure the length of your dog's snout from the inside corner of one eye to the tip of the nose.
Source: NSSPCA (Animal Protection Act)
Hope you enjoyed our April Fools as much as we enjoyed putting it together. Thank you for caring for your animals so well. We salute you.
