The Sunday Mail
Ellen Sanyanga
IT is often said that a dog is man’s best friend, but with a sharp increase in the number of stray dogs on the streets, one wonders if people still value them that much.
Dogs are very close to humans — providing security and companionship.
However, in Zimbabwe they have suddenly become a menace to society as a lot of them are left to roam the streets unattended.
Most dogs are ravenous by nature. In addition to their dietary essentials, they also have special needs that include veterinary care, which often comes at a huge cost.
Dog food prices have sky rocketed together with other daily supplies as the wanton price increases of basic commodities continues unabated.
Tied to that are austerity measures put in place by the Government, which have seen families becoming strict with their spending.
This has led many to make the tough call of choosing between the well-being of their families or their pets, particularly dogs.
This has seen a huge number of dog owners giving up their best friends (pets) to organisations such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Others just let the dogs wander in search for food in rubbish bins and dumping areas.
Despite efforts to find homes for the stray, surrendered and abandoned animals, the number of dogs in need of shelter, veterinary care and emotional support continues to rise.
The Sunday Mail Society spoke to some backyard breeders, pure breed owners and those that sell puppies. They all confirmed that business is currently low.
Michael Dean, a pit bull breeder based in Braeside, said his business of selling seed (semen from his pure breeds) and puppies is at an all-time low as people have other priorities.
“I’m even struggling to take care of my own dogs, which give me an income, what more first time owners. People have other priorities right now,” said Dean, adding, “The other problem is that these pure breeds are sensitive, they need a special kind of care and that is something unattainable right now in this difficult economic environment.”
According to the SPCA, among the many dogs abandoned in 2017, a total of 6 768 passed through the Veterinary Hospital.
Of that number, 5 315 were vaccinated and 1 033 admitted for in-house treatment.
Most of the dogs are now roaming in different suburbs, looking for food since there is no one to provide it for them, and no room to accommodate such large numbers.
SPCA manager Ronald Jairos Fourie confirmed that there is an increase in the number of stray dogs on the streets. He also chastised pet owners for being irresponsible and not taking good care of their pets.
He said most dogs that are “dumped” at their premises usually carry diseases.
He added that because of this precarious situation the SPCA finds itself in, the untreated dogs are a threat to society as they end up chasing people on the streets and biting them, thereby spreading diseases such as rabies.
In 2016, the Harare City Council was forced to put down stray dogs that had become a menace on the capital’s streets. However, City of Harare public relations manager Michael Chideme said it is no longer the council’s responsibility to do so since they are now working with the SPCA.
In order to control the number of stray dogs on the streets, Harare City Council has introduced strict dog licensing and control by-laws, which will, among other things, require residents to apply for permission to keep dogs.
According to the Harare Dog Licensing and Control By-Laws 2015, no person may keep more than two dogs at a dwelling house. It further states that failure to comply with sections of the by-laws will attract a jail term.
