Kariba to shoot stray dogs

Paul Pindani in CHINHOYI

KARIBA Town Council has resolved to shoot stray dogs that have become a nuisance in the tourist resort town.

Town clerk, Richard Kamhoti, said in a public notice that the local authority had noted an increase in dog bites and dogs roaming the streets.

“Most of the dogs are neither vaccinated nor licenced,” said Kamhoti.

“No one is allowed to keep dogs which are six months or older that are not vaccinated or licenced,” he said.

Kamhoti said with effect from next month, municipal police will patrol the town and put to death all stray dogs.

However, Zimbabwe National Organisations of Associations of Residents Trust provincial chairman, Liberty Chitiya, told H-Metro that although council was right in tackling the stray dogs menace, putting them to death was the wrong option.

“Dogs being put to death instead of being surrendered to the SPCA is cruelty which points to lack of stakeholder input,” said Chitiya.

“In the end, the local authority is using emotions instead of the law in regulating dogs.”