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 22

22. Duties of pound master

(1) A pound master―

   (a) must keep the pound open between 08h00 and 16h30 from Monday to Friday and Saturday between 08h00 and 12h00 unless any such day is a public holiday;

   (b) may, notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a), keep the pound open during such earlier or later hours as he considers necessary, subject to displaying an easily legible notice to that effect at the entrance to the pound.

   (c) must accept, take charge of any animal brought to the pound by an authorised official, during the hours when the pound is open and must detain that animal in the pound;

   (d) must scan any animal taken into custody by an authorised official for the purposes of detecting a microchip.

   (e) must keep a register in which the following particulars of any animal are recorded:

      (i) the name of the authorised official or the name, residential address and telephone number of any other person who brought the animal to be impounded;

      (ii) the time at which and date on which the animal was impounded;

      (iii) the place where the animal was found immediately before it was taken into custody;

      (iv) the date on which and the time at which the animal was taken into custody before being brought to the pound;

      (v) the reason for impounding the animal;

      (vi) a description of the animal indicating the estimated age, breed, sex, colour, markings and any injury found on the animal when the pound master accepted it; (vii) whether the animal was released, sold or destroyed and the date and time of such release, sale or destruction;

      (viii) the amount or money realised in respect of such release or sale; and

      (ix) the amount of veterinary expenses, if any, incurred in respect of the animal;

   (f) must ensure that the pound and all equipment used in connection with impounding animals are at all times kept in a clean condition and free from flies and other vermin, to the satisfaction of the Council’s Executive Director: Health;

   (g) must ensure that every animal in the pound is properly fed and cared for;

   (h) must isolate any female animal on heat;

   (i) must take all reasonable steps to prevent fighting amongst animals in the pound;

   (j) must isolate any diseased animal from the healthy animals, have such animal attended to by a veterinarian and take all steps to recover the expenses incurred in this regard from the owner if the identity and address of the owner are known;

   (k) must take all necessary steps to have any animal destroyed as contemplated in this By-Law and recover any expenses incurred in this regard from the owner if the identity and address of the owner are known;

   (l) must take all reasonable steps to ensure that animals that are suitable for adoption are re-homed, where possible, which shall include, inter alia, reporting the finding or availability of such animal for adoption or rehoming to its official website, or available social media platform/s, or partnership forums and/or City communications platforms, such as the Petfinder City website;

   (m) must levy the prescribed fees for impoundment and daily holding fees in respect of any animal; and

   (n) may cause any animal to be sterilised, unless a permit is issued in terms of Section 5 of this By Law, and the animal is provided with identification as set out in sections 2(4) and 3(4) prior to releasing the animal and recovering the costs thereof from the owner.

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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