City of Cape Town has officially started to conduct domestic animal survey. The survey is a first of its kind in the metropole, that aims to develop a baseline on the animal population to inform future planning and resourcing around animal welfare.
Reportedly, the domestic animal survey is the latest one in the series of interventions that are undertaken by the City of Cape Town administration to promote and ensure the welfare of animals in the metropole.
City of Cape Town is funding more than a decade of mass sterilisation campaigns that are undertaken by the Cape Animal Welfare Forum (CAWF). The establishment of an anti-dog fighting task team and a memorandum of understanding on the impoundment of dangerous animals or animals in distress.
Moreover, these are already well established and are the by-laws around animal keeping and a dedicated Animal Control Unit within Law Enforcement.
The survey aims to give officials a handle on the extent of Cape Town’s domestic animal population. It is happening in collaboration with the animal welfare sector. Over a period of six weeks, pet owners, and also the public at large will have an opportunity to participate in the survey. The teams of field workers will alternatively criss-cross the communities to conduct in-person surveys.
However, the survey will seek to determine the type and number of animals per household, consisting their vaccination and sterilisation status and the type of animal care sought when they fall ill, i.e. private or NGO.
Considering this, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security – Alderman JP Smith said that the continued investment by the City of Cape Town in animal welfare is driven by the understanding that healthy animal populations are critical to public health and safety.
Smith mentioned that they have done a lot of good work in this space, but there is always a room for improvement. According to him, with this survey, they will be able to develop a better understanding of animal care and trends, as well as the approximate size of the population.
Notably, the survey in turn, will help to determine whether their existing measures are sufficient or how they need to pivot in the future around funding, legislation and any other support to the animal welfare sector.