Dog owners to pay Sh3,000 to keep pets in Nairobi

Owners of dogs aged six months and above will be forced to obtain licences if a bill before the county assembly is passed into law.

Like in Europe where pet owners obtain permits, those living in Nairobi will also be required to part with Sh1,000 for a special tag for the pet and ensure it is always left under the care of a person at home.

If the bill that is in the first reading is passed into law, the dog owners will pay Sh2,000 for an annual licence and Sh1,000 for the special identification tag that will be put around the dog’s neck all the time. The tag collar will bear the licence and an inscription of the name and address of the pet’s owner.

The sponsor of the bill, Kayole South Member of County Assembly Elizabeth Manyala, seeks to rein in on stray dogs in the city, ensure the canines are well catered for and city residents are protected from the barking noise made by the animals.

“No person shall own or keep any dog above the age of six months within Nairobi City County unless such a person is in possession of a licence for the dog issued under this Act,” the Nairobi City County Dog Control and Welfare Bill 2015 reads in part.

In seeking to protect city residents from being bitten by stray dogs, the bill stipulates that people will be allowed to rear dogs only if their homes and premises are properly fenced to control their movement.

 PAY FINE

“A person shall not keep a dog if his or her premises are not properly and adequately fenced to keep such a dog inside when it is not on leash unless it is confined to the premises in some other manner, provided that such confinement is not inhumane,” adds the bill.

The bill adds that any stray dog or one that does not bear a valid identification tag shall be seized by authorised personnel from the Nairobi City County and their owners may get them back after paying a Sh5,000 fine.

Those who keep dogs in their apartments in the city that howl throughout the night and cause a nuisance to their neighbours will also be in trouble if the bill is passed into law.

 “A person shall not keep any dog which barks, yelps, howls or whines for more than six accumulated minutes in an hour or more than three accumulated minutes in half an hour,” states the bills. “A person who contravenes the provisions of this Act or fails to comply with any order or direction given under this Act shall be punishable with a fine not exceeding Sh5,000.” Dog lovers who fancy walking around with their pets in town are not spared either as the controversial bill emphasises that the animals must be on a leash all the time in public places.

Ms Manyala told The Standard she was motivated to come up with the legislation by incidents where the canines have attacked and even killed people in the country, adding she is hopeful it will be gazetted.

“Many people have suffered in silence at the hands of stray dogs and those whose owners don’t take good care of them. We don’t want people losing their lives unnecessarily like what happened in Baba Dogo early this year when a security guard was mauled to death by dogs,” she said.

The MCA said her bill will not only protect the county residents from attacks from dogs, but  also enable the county government to obtain the much-needed revenue from the fines and licensing fees.

“People should be held responsible for their pets. When they get licences to keep the animals, they will be more responsible,” she said.