The City of Cape Town has embarked on an ambitious journey aimed at better understanding its domestic animal population through the launch of a pioneering domestic animal survey.
This survey, the first of its kind in the metropolitan area, aims to establish a comprehensive baseline regarding the animal populace, which will play a crucial role in informing future planning and resourcing dedicated to animal welfare.
With a robust history of interventions aimed at promoting pet care and safety, the domestic animal survey builds on several established initiatives, including stringent by-laws governing animal keeping and the dedicated Animal Control Unit functioning under the auspices of Law Enforcement.
Over the past decade, the City has also invested in substantial funding for mass sterilisation campaigns, led by the Cape Animal Welfare Forum (CAWF). Moreover, the recent establishment of an anti-dog fighting task team and a memorandum of understanding to address the impoundment of dangerous or distressed animals underscores the City’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of animals.
Running for a period of six weeks, the survey invites participation from pet owners as well as the general public. Individuals can complete the survey online or they may encounter teams of field workers throughout communities who will conduct in-person surveys.
“The City’s continued investment in animal welfare is driven by the understanding that healthy animal populations are critical to public health and safety. We have done a lot of good work in this space, but there is always room for improvement,” said JP Smith, the Mayco member for Safety and Security.
“With this survey, we will be able to develop a better understanding of animal care and trends, as well as the approximate size of the population. This, in turn, will help determine whether our existing measures are sufficient or how we need to pivot in the future around funding, legislation, and any other support to the animal welfare sector.”
The survey seeks to gather vital information, including the types and numbers of animals per household, their vaccination and sterilisation status, and the nature of medical care sought in case of illness—be it from private practitioners or non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
For the safety of residents, all field workers will carry identification cards while conducting in-person surveys. To verify the credentials of any staff member, residents are encouraged to contact the City’s Customer Call Centre at 0860 103 089. Moreover, a toll-free number has been established for general queries or concerns regarding the survey—0800 212 176—operating weekdays between 08:00 and 16:00.