ZIMBABWE National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ZNSPCA) says it is overwhelmed by numerous calls alerting them to attend free roaming cats and dogs whose rate is increasing by the day.
The number of unwanted animals in Zimbabwe and worldwide has reached epidemic proportions with ZNSPCA working around the clock to stem this tide, albeit on a limited budget.
In an interview with Zim Morning Post, the National Chief Inspector of ZNSPSCA Denise Murton said the public should desist from abandoning their animals especially dogs and cats.
“We used to call them stray dogs or stray cats, they are now called ‘free roaming dogs and free roaming cats,’ because their owners later on come claiming them”, said Murton.
“We also discourage the illegal breeding of dogs which also causes the overpopulation of dogs and those who would like to do breeding are supposed to have a licence for breeding,” said Murton.
According to The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals Act Section (30) (c) it is an offence when an owner abandons any animal or causes or permits any animal to be abandoned.
“The by-Laws are not being followed by the general public due to lack of education by Councils of every town in Zimbabwe,” she said.
“The Councils have left all the tasks to ZNSPSCA and it is difficult for us to investigate all reported cases of mistreatment of the animals,” said Murton.
“The rate of free roaming dogs is increasing every day and we receive calls from various places of Zimbabwe and sometimes we cannot afford to attend due to financial problems as our funds comes from donations, from well-wishers. We need councils to assist and enforce the by-laws to prevent harm of dogs and cats,” said Murton.
Stray dogs have many negative impacts on the city environments and to human health and also cause noise pollution as well as traffic accidents.
Hundreds of stray dogs are roaming in various townships and central business district. Stray dogs can transfer and spread rabies which is a deadly disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are more than 200 million stray dogs worldwide and that every year, 55 000 people die from rabies.
“There are many causes for dogs and cats becoming stray, the most important reason is abandonment behaviour by residents. A great numbers of dogs were abandoned by their owners for reasons such as family tragedies, moving and getting married, sickness and intolerable physiological characteristics of pets, no money for treatment, unwilling to continue feeding,” said ZNSPCA Senior Inspector Chris Chikadaya.
The available options to deal with stray dogs include sheltering and vaccinating,” said Chikadaya.
