Gauteng to let barking dogs woof

Gauteng authorities have dismissed the idea of introducing municipal bylaws to curb dogs barking -- similar to those in Cape Town.

In Cape Town, dog owners who allow their pets to bark for more than six minutes an hour can be fined.

Terence Mashego, Tshwane mayoral committee member for community safety, said a bylaw of that nature would be inappropriate.

"A barking dog is a natural thing, a creation of God. You cannot apply a municipal regulation to it," he said, according to Beeld newspaper.

Nthatisi Modingoane, spokesman for the Johannesburg metro council, said the barking of dogs was governed by Gauteng noise control bylaws, and city regulations governing cats and dogs.

The by-laws made provision for the delivery of a warning letter to pet owners.

Modingoane told the newspaper there were no plans to adopt legislation anything like that in Cape Town.

"Any noise can be regarded as noise pollution," he said.

Cape Town mayoral committee member JP Smith said it received about 500 complaints a month about incessantly barking dogs.

Bernice Jaffe, an animal behaviour specialist from Cape Town, said continuous barking was often an indication of boredom.