Capetonians have always undying love for their four-legged friends, with a majority of families around the Province having either one or more pets, which is usually a dog. However, there are a few individuals around the city that use their k-9 friends for more nefarious purposes, chief amongst which is illegal dog-fighting.
To help put this issue to bed once and for all, the City of Cape Town announced on Thursday, March 11, that it has established a dedicated anti-dogfighting team. According to a statement released by the city, the new team has already been deployed into several hotspot areas to create awareness around the responsibilities of dog owners and dogfighting.
The City of Cape Town’s newly-established joint anti-dogfighting team has already ventured into several hotspots creating awareness around the responsibilities of dog owners and dogfighting.
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— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) March 11, 2021
The anti-dogfighting is made up of a variety of members who specialise in different fields. This includes City Law Enforcement Animal Control officers, welfare inspectors from the Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and members of the Safety and Security Investigations Unit (SSIU).
“Dogfighting is a real, vicious and barbaric activity which is rife across the metropole. Often the only time this dark issue comes to light is when a resident has enough courage or compassion for the animals involved, to call authorities,” said City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
As part of their duties, the anti-dogfighting team will be tasked with dealing with the following issues: