Dog owners urged to be responsible these holidays
The Kloof and Highway SPCA is urging dog owners to take steps to prevent their animals from escaping or getting out of their properties this festive season.
The organisation made the plea, hoping no harm will come to animals that have left their yards, or people who may encounter them. The SPCA’s Lisa Gadd says having dogs sterilised makes them less likely to wonder off.
She is also encouraging people to have micro-chips implanted in their pets so they can be found more easily should they escape. Gadd says people must take note of a dog’s body language if they encounter an unfamiliar animal on the streets.
"Dogs used parts of their bodies to communicate. They are mostly the tail, ears, mouth and teeth, the eyes and the fur on its back. So a threatened dog will have its ears forward and pricked up or curled back. The nose will be wrinkled and the lips pulled back to expose the teeth. The body will be slightly forward ready to attack or lowered towards the ground. The hair on a dog's back will be standing up. The tail will be raised or down between its legs", she said.
An 8-year-old Merrivale boy died earlier this month after being attacked by his neighbour’s dog inside his own yard.
(Photo: Gallo Images)