Maputo — Pet owners in Maputo will now have to obtain licences from the City Council for their dogs and cats.

A new city by-law, published on Wednesday (but approved by the Municipal Assembly on 20 May) states that dogs and cats will only be allowed to remain in the capital if they possess a licence issued by the City Council Health Department.

These licences are only valid for 12 months, and will be issued against a document proving that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies. The number of the rabies vaccination certificate must be included on the licence.

The licence costs 200 meticais (about 5.5 US dollars) and the annual renewals of the licence will cost 100 meticais.

Dogs and cats, even if licensed, may not circulate in public places unless their owners are also present - a provision which shows that those who drafted this document have no idea about the behaviour of cats.

Certain breeds of dogs regarded as potentially violent - pitbulls, dobermanns and rottweilers - will not be allowed onto the streets of Maputo at all, except for visits to the vet, and then only when "the necessary security measures are taken". These measures are not specified. The owners of such animals are thus forbidden from taking them for walks, even on a leash.

Dogs and cats found in public places without their owners will be regarded as strays. They will be rounded up and taken to the municipal kennels. Dog-catchers are to give priority to "obviously aggressively sick or injured animals".

Their owners may collect impounded dogs or cats within 72 hours against payment of 600 meticais plus 200 meticais a day for the animal's accommodation, and between 30 and 150 meticais a day for food, depending on the animal's age.

Captured animals that are suffering or ill, or that are not claimed by their owners within 72 hours, will be sold, put up for adoption, or humanely put down by the municipal vet.

The owners of dogs or cats will be held responsible for any attacks by their pets against other people in public places. They must pay for any damage done, and must also pay municipal fines.

Any home where there is a dog must place a warning sign at the entrance.