OPENING STATEMENT
I am going to open this feedback with inputs from a few professional people to put some perspective to our debate.
Is your family pet bad for the environment? Well, that depends. Some of us just don’t want to change or don’t particularly care. But showing our younger generation how to decrease their pet’s paw print can empower them to think more sustainably.
Whether it’s a dog, cat, chicken, goldfish, or hamster, most people love their pets. Many would consider them a part of the family and rightfully so. Pets consume resources, from food and water to medicine, toys, and special furniture. They also produce waste. And this has many pet families wondering just exactly how bad their animals may be for the environment. A toy here and a can of tuna there might not seem like a big concern for Betty’s Bay’s health, but with one-third of our households in Betty’s Bay owning at least one dog and almost one-quarter of households owning at least one cat, any cost is going to add up. Some households have more than two dogs and more than three cats which is the current limit on animals per household. If we add up all the small amounts of dogs and cats we have, it still ends up with big numbers. Waste created by pets’ poo alone is astronomical, used kitty litter, pet food packaging, old toys, and yes, even costumes can push the overall sustainability of owning pets into the red. Some of these issues have unsolvable side effects to the decision to own animals. (There’s no way to make your pets poo less, for example.)
Why is dog poo so bad for the environment? Your pooch’s poo is a kind of fertiliser, like sheep manure, so you might be wondering what the problem is exactly. But their nitrous content only helps a limited number of plants to grow. Our plants are not part of that group and therefor does not benefit from the dog poo at all. To the contrary it is reducing biodiversity in our fragile spaces.
In many nature reserves, the management is specifically directed towards lowering soil nutrient levels to enhance plant and animal biodiversity and this is true to our part of the woods. The only difference is we are the reserve management and only we can make a difference.
From the kind of pet, you choose and the food you feed it, to the way you play with and clean up after that animal, you and your family have plenty of ways to reduce the toll your pets take on the village. Though not everyone agrees on the best way to minimise your pet’s paw print, we’ve got some basic ideas for your family to keep in mind.
The scoop on poop: Dog and cat poops aren’t big, but there are a lot of them. There’s not much to do about a pet’s pooing, so the trick is learning about sustainable methods of disposing of said poop. For instance, you might choose compostable doggy bags over plastic, take the trouble to flush your dog’s waste, or buy kitty litter made from bamboo, corn, or other biodegradable products rather than clay. Please keep in mind that cat’s faeces can pass deadly parasites on to endangered wildlife.
Play with your pets: Engaging house cats in just five to 10 minutes of play each day significantly reduced their desire to hunt wild animals and that is where they impact on our eco system the most, because outdoor cats kill hundreds of wild animals every year, making them an enormous strain on native species. Cats regularly hunt in our biosphere, and we don’t know to what extent they have impacted on the environment. One thing is for sure they have made some sort of unnatural interference.
Another way to contribute to the overall sustainability of pets is to pick the right one. A smaller dog has less of an impact than a large one, because cats need more protein, selecting a cat over a larger, medium-size dog would still actually have a negative effect.
Whatever we do as pet owners, it’s not all-or-nothing, there are things we can do to live with our pets, our environment, and our neighbours in harmony.
We suggest that the communities come up with their own solutions to their own domestic animal problems because they are complex, emotional and could be costly to the biosphere. The biggest and most shocking impact on this biosphere is not picking up after their dogs.
Also, a firm calling for leash use to be enforced more strictly, and for more off-leash dog parks to reduce the pressure on nature reserves.
COMMUNITY VISION
To be a community where we can live together in peace with each other’s pets in the neighbourhood.
To be a community where we respect rules of owning dogs and cats in our neighbourhood.
To be a community where all visitors are made aware of how we live with and manage our pets.
AIM
The aim of this feedback is to inform every ratepayer and resident of the mood and solutions from the debate. It is also aimed at educating and assisting in better pet management in the interest of people, the biosphere and our beloved pets.
BACKGROUND
To date there have been umpteen complaints around pets and law enforcement and dogs running free and dog poo all over the show and cats killing our critters at night to rude dog owners on the beaches and and and. So, we had a debate to find some middle ground.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
People have more than two dogs.
Dogs barking continuously for no reason.
People walking their dogs off the leash.
Law enforcement is not policing the by-laws adequately.
Visitors come here and let their animals run a mock.
People do not know the law on pets.
People know the law on pets but just don’t care.
People are breeding dogs within the community.
Some people don’t have permits to breed dogs but still do it.
Some people think that because they have lived here more than a certain number of years they can do as they please.
Some people have more than three cats.
The cats are catching little animals and insects at night but are not part of the natural eco system.
Cats fight at certain times and create a noise.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The outcome of the debate acknowledges that:
The debate acknowledges the problem statements to be real and valid.
The debate acknowledges that there are by-laws governing this matter.
The debate also acknowledges that a previous debate had made prevision for dog of leashes.
The debate acknowledges that the matter needed to be address as a large part of the community were unhappy.
The debate acknowledges that although a study has not been done on the impact of cats on our environment, it was a concern that the killing of certain species by cats at night would eventually impact on the eco system negatively.
The debate acknowledges that the problem is certainly not the animals, but the owners. This is a people problem.
The debate acknowledges that there are many other types of animals kept in Betty’s Bay that could be discussed but it is felt that until they become a problem situation like the dogs and cats, it was not necessary to discuss for now.
SUGESTION
- Try and reduce the paw print in Betty’s Bay as much as possible going forward.
- Always walk dogs on leashes unless in the spaces identified in a previous debate.
- Always pick up you dog poo and take it home with you.
- If you are a pet owner read the by-laws on OVERSTRAND MUNICIPALITY BY-LAW RELATING TO THE KEEPING OF DOGS AND CATS
- May all who rent out property to visitors: Please let them know that they can not and must not leave the property without having their dog on a leash and may not let their dog off the leash on the beach. Please make them aware of where their dogs may be off the leash if they must. This information was sent our in February.
- Encourage cats to stay in at night.
- Ensure that all cats have collars with little but effective bells on them.
- Stick to the 2 dog and 3 cat rules with an intention to reduce the paw print in the future.
- For breeders: consider you neighbours before deciding to breed in your back yard.
- For breeders: comply with all the necessary permissions and permits as required by law.
- In the future get video footage of people not adhering to the by-laws and forward it to one of the law enforcement officers on duty here in Betty’s Bay for that day. This information may be given by the neighbourhood watch chairman.
- Create a space by offering to dog sit while dog owners are at work so the dog has companionship and will not spend the rest of the day barking or wining. Here is a tiny, little, small business opportunity. Doggy creche.
- Use our growing camera network to report on people that do not comply.
- Name and shame are not an option for now and a more mature neighbourly approach should be adopted. It was suggested that the Ratepayers play a role in mediation. Suggestion was accepted by the chairman.
OBLIGAITON BY OWNER AND/OR LETTING AGENT
I have attached the relevant by-law to this emailed feedback for your information.
THE LAW AND NOISY DOGS IS IN THE NUISENCE LAW
This information was delt with and distributed in the feedback on party houses last month.
WHY MUST I HAVE MY DOG ON A LEASH
I was approached again this week by a very forceful resident and he said to me, “I have been living here for 25 years and I have never walked with my dog on a leash, why must I do it now?” I answered something like this.
Keeping a dog on a leash helps ensure their safety as well as the safety of others. It prevents them from running into traffic, chasing after other animals, or getting into potentially dangerous situations.
A leash gives the owner control over the dog’s movements, especially in public areas. It helps prevent the dog from approaching or bothering other people, children, or pets who may be uncomfortable or fearful around dogs.
We have leash laws in place that mandate dogs to be on a leash. It is important to comply with these laws to avoid fines or legal consequences.
Even if a dog is well-behaved and friendly, not everyone may be comfortable or at ease around dogs. By keeping a dog on a leash, owners show respect for others’ personal space and help alleviate any anxiety or discomfort.
Using a leash during walks or outings provides an opportunity for training and reinforcing commands with the dog. It helps establish boundaries and reinforces the owner’s role as the leader.
Dogs have a natural curiosity and may wander off, potentially getting into dangerous situations or encountering hazards. A leash prevents them from roaming too far and keeps them close to their owners, reducing the risk of accidents, injuries and destruction of birds nests or killing chicks.
WHY MUST I HAVE TWO CATS
This question to me came from a dear resident in our community. I answered something like this.
Our biospheres aim to maintain a delicate balance of ecosystems and species diversity. Cats, especially when they are introduced as non-native or feral species, can disrupt this balance by preying on native wildlife. They may hunt and negatively impact bird populations or other small mammals, potentially leading to an ecological imbalance.
Cats are natural hunters, and when they are allowed to roam freely in a biosphere, they can have detrimental effects on local wildlife populations. Native species that are not adapted to cope with predation from cats may decline or even face the risk of extinction. Reducing the number of cats helps protect and preserve the biodiversity of native species within the biosphere.
Cats, particularly feral or stray cats, can carry diseases that can be transmitted to other animals or even humans. By minimizing the number of cats in a biosphere, the risk of disease transmission is reduced, ensuring the health and well-being of the ecosystem’s inhabitants.
we are dedicated to conservation efforts, aiming to protect and restore endangered or vulnerable species and habitats. Cats, especially feral cats, can pose a significant threat to these conservation initiatives by preying on or competing with the targeted species. By controlling the number of cats, conservation efforts can be better supported and enhanced.
CONCLUSION
Overall, using a leash is a responsible practice that promotes safety, control, and respect for both the dog and the surrounding environment.
It’s important to note that managing cat populations in a biosphere should be done through humane and ethical methods, such as trap-neuter-return programs, adoption efforts, or other responsible approaches that prioritize the welfare of the cats while addressing the ecological concerns.
This information was gathered through debate and emailed correspondence by the ratepayers and residents of Betty’s Bay.
The chairman of the Ratepayers Association will engage with the Director of public safety on 25 May 23 for assistance in enforcing the by-laws currently in place.
GRATITUDE BY BBRA CHAIRMAN
I thank each person that attended our debate and sent me emails in this regard. It all helps us to understand our situation better. It is the ratepayers and residents of this community that will ultimately find solutions to all the problems we have. This is not the end of it but the beginning and lots will be added going forward.
Date: 21 May 2023
(WR JACKSON)
BETTY’S BAY RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION: CHAIRMAN