Licence your dogs

THE Municipality at Walvis Bay has reminded residents that, under the Municipal Dog Tax Ordinance, it is an offence to keep unlicensed dogs.

Municipal officials are conducting dog licence inspections and have found that many residents have not licensed their dogs, the Municipality said in a media release. Some residents, who have been fined up to N$200 for keeping unlicensed dogs, have complained that they had not been warned in advance.Others were surprised that they were liable to pay fines.Offenders can get a maximum fine of N$200 or a prison sentence of six months.Residents are urged to obtain dog licences from cashier desks at any of the municipality’s three offices.Licences are renewable annually between January 1 and March 31 and expire on December 31.The local authority also warned that:”Stray dogs are the cause of uncontrolled breeding, an overall nuisance, spread of diseases, ticks and fleas and also present an unsightly scene.”Dogs allowed to roam the streets are also an offence under the Municipal by-law.”Many dog owners are guilty of this practice.Stray dogs will be impounded.”Council appeals to all dog owners to adhere to the following rules: * renew or obtain your dog’s licence in time * keep your dogs off the streets * prevent your dogs from being a nuisance to your neighbours * report stray dogs to the Municipality immediately and * co-operate with the officials of the Council when called to do so.Ivan Gawanab can be contacted for further information at tel. 064-2013286.Some residents, who have been fined up to N$200 for keeping unlicensed dogs, have complained that they had not been warned in advance.Others were surprised that they were liable to pay fines.Offenders can get a maximum fine of N$200 or a prison sentence of six months.Residents are urged to obtain dog licences from cashier desks at any of the municipality’s three offices.Licences are renewable annually between January 1 and March 31 and expire on December 31.The local authority also warned that:”Stray dogs are the cause of uncontrolled breeding, an overall nuisance, spread of diseases, ticks and fleas and also present an unsightly scene.”Dogs allowed to roam the streets are also an offence under the Municipal by-law.”Many dog owners are guilty of this practice.Stray dogs will be impounded.”Council appeals to all dog owners to adhere to the following rules: * renew or obtain your dog’s licence in time * keep your dogs off the streets * prevent your dogs from being a nuisance to your neighbours * report stray dogs to the Municipality immediately and * co-operate with the officials of the Council when called to do so.Ivan Gawanab can be contacted for further information at tel. 064-2013286.