Have Your Say: City of Cape Town's draft Animal Keeping By-law, 2026
While responsible measures to protect animals and communities are necessary, the draft goes much further. It proposes permits and fees for every dog and cat over six months old, compulsory sterilisation unless an owner obtains permission otherwise, limits on the number of animals residents may keep, and extensive enforcement and impoundment powers.
DearSA believes responsible animal owners should not be treated as the problem.
Animal welfare laws should focus on cruelty, neglect, irresponsible breeding and genuine public nuisances — not create unnecessary costs and bureaucracy for people who already care responsibly for their animals.
The important facts to consider
The proposed By-law would:
- Require owners to apply for a permit for every dog and cat over six months old, with a prescribed permit fee.
- Require all dogs and cats over six months to be sterilised, unless the owner obtains a separate permit to keep the animal unsterilised.
- Limit the number of dogs and cats residents may keep without obtaining additional permission.
- Introduce further permit requirements affecting rabbits, certain birds, poultry, livestock and exotic animals.
- Give the City significant powers relating to the seizure, impoundment and forfeiture of animals.
- Create additional regulatory requirements for breeders, animal welfare organisations and animal-related businesses.
- These provisions could impose significant new costs and administrative burdens on thousands of responsible animal owners.
What should change
DearSA calls for a fairer and more proportionate approach. The City should protect animal welfare and deal firmly with cruelty, neglect, dangerous animals, irresponsible breeding and genuine nuisances. But responsible owners who properly care for their animals should not face unnecessary permits, recurring fees or excessive interference in responsible animal ownership.
We call on the City to reconsider provisions that place unreasonable burdens on law-abiding animal owners and ensure that any final By-law is practical, affordable, enforceable and respectful of responsible ownership.
Why Your Participation Matters
If you own an animal in Cape Town, these proposed rules could affect you directly. Have your say before the By-law is finalised. Through DearSA, you can submit your own comment and tell the City which provisions you support, oppose or want changed.
Responsible animal ownership should be encouraged — not buried in red tape.
