PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
City of Cape Town Draft Animal Keeping By-law
Sun, 27 September 2026
This page is part of a more easily readable version of the controversial Draft Animal Keeping By-law published for public comment until 29 September 2026. There are links below to the other 44 sections.
Comments and submissions should be emailed to animal.bylaw@capetown.gov.za
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SECTION 19
19. Seizure and removal of an animal or item
(1) An authorised official may seize any animal or item that is kept in contravention of any provision of this By-Law and take such animal or item to a place designated by the City where the animal or item can be accommodated.
(2) Any animal or item seized in terms of this By-law, must be kept at the place designated by the City for at least 7 days to enable the owner or person in charge of the animal or item to claim such animal or item or to submit representations as to why ownership of the animal or item should not be forfeited to the City.
(3) Subject to subsection (2), animals or items seized by the City in terms of subsection (1) will be forfeited to the City if the animal or item has not been claimed or collected within 7 days of ―
(a) the date of impoundment, or
(b) the conclusion of the matter’s prosecution, or
(c) the conclusion of successful representation to the City.
(4) The person who claims the seized animal must pay to the City the reasonable costs of the City for the seizure and removal of the animal, plus the reasonable costs of the organisation for accommodating the animal, before the animal may be released to the person.
(5) If an animal is seized in terms of this By-law and, where applicable, is so diseased or injured or in such a poor physical condition that it would be cruel or that it would bring unnecessary suffering to the animal to keep it alive and that it ought therefore to be destroyed without unreasonable delay, the City or authorised official may summon a veterinarian to examine the animal and if, after such examination, the veterinarian certifies that the animal is so diseased or injured or in such a poor physical condition that it would be cruel or that it would bring unnecessary suffering to the animal to keep it alive and that it ought therefore to be destroyed, the City or authorised official may instruct a veterinarian or animal welfare inspector to immediately destroy the animal or cause it to be destroyed in such a manner so as to inflict as little suffering as possible.
(6) The City may recover the reasonable veterinary costs and other costs in carrying out the provisions of subsection (5) from the owner or the person in charge of keeping the animal in question.
(7) Any animal which has been seized in terms of this by-law, or the provisions of any other law, which is found by the authorised official –
(a) to be suffering from any incurable, infectious or contagious disease, or be badly injured as certified by a veterinarian; or
(b) to be ferocious, vicious or dangerous, where this has been confirmed by a qualified animal behaviourist, may be destroyed forthwith - the destruction of any dog or cat shall be by such painless method as may be approved by a registered veterinarian and shall take place under the supervision of an authorised official.
(1) An authorised official may seize any animal or item that is kept in contravention of any provision of this By-Law and take such animal or item to a place designated by the City where the animal or item can be accommodated.
(2) Any animal or item seized in terms of this By-law, must be kept at the place designated by the City for at least 7 days to enable the owner or person in charge of the animal or item to claim such animal or item or to submit representations as to why ownership of the animal or item should not be forfeited to the City.
(3) Subject to subsection (2), animals or items seized by the City in terms of subsection (1) will be forfeited to the City if the animal or item has not been claimed or collected within 7 days of ―
(a) the date of impoundment, or
(b) the conclusion of the matter’s prosecution, or
(c) the conclusion of successful representation to the City.
(4) The person who claims the seized animal must pay to the City the reasonable costs of the City for the seizure and removal of the animal, plus the reasonable costs of the organisation for accommodating the animal, before the animal may be released to the person.
(5) If an animal is seized in terms of this By-law and, where applicable, is so diseased or injured or in such a poor physical condition that it would be cruel or that it would bring unnecessary suffering to the animal to keep it alive and that it ought therefore to be destroyed without unreasonable delay, the City or authorised official may summon a veterinarian to examine the animal and if, after such examination, the veterinarian certifies that the animal is so diseased or injured or in such a poor physical condition that it would be cruel or that it would bring unnecessary suffering to the animal to keep it alive and that it ought therefore to be destroyed, the City or authorised official may instruct a veterinarian or animal welfare inspector to immediately destroy the animal or cause it to be destroyed in such a manner so as to inflict as little suffering as possible.
(6) The City may recover the reasonable veterinary costs and other costs in carrying out the provisions of subsection (5) from the owner or the person in charge of keeping the animal in question.
(7) Any animal which has been seized in terms of this by-law, or the provisions of any other law, which is found by the authorised official –
(a) to be suffering from any incurable, infectious or contagious disease, or be badly injured as certified by a veterinarian; or
(b) to be ferocious, vicious or dangerous, where this has been confirmed by a qualified animal behaviourist, may be destroyed forthwith - the destruction of any dog or cat shall be by such painless method as may be approved by a registered veterinarian and shall take place under the supervision of an authorised official.
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Comments and submissions should be emailed to animal.bylaw@capetown.gov.za
Other sections
CHAPTER 1 – General Provisions
CHAPTER 2 – Keeping of Animals
CHAPTER 3 – Bee Keeping
CHAPTER 4 – Enforcement