Botswana - Get a Dog License

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Procedure

Apply In-Person

1. The application for a Dog License shall be made to the local authority offices. Contact Details link
2. Applicants are required to make the application in writing using a prescribed form - A, which is obtainable at any of the local authority offices. These forms are not available online.
3. Submit the duly completed form, attached to the supporting documentation as mentioned under the “Required Documents” section of this page to the local authority offices within your residence.
4. Upon submission, the application is checked for completeness and correctness by the council receiving officer, if everything is in order the application will be forwarded for processing and consideration bythe Director of Veterinary Services to the City Ward Veterinary in charge of your residential area, who are licensed to inspect dog licensing within the City.
5. Applicants are issued with an acknowledgment slip/reference number as proof of submission of the application and for inquiry referencing if the need arises.
6. Upon receipt of the application, the Ward Vet will contact the applicant to make an appointment for inspection, if deemed necessary.
7. During the inspection, they check your rabies vaccination books, your fencing, dog shelter, water, and how you dispose of feces. With a view to animal welfare and neighborly behavior and write his recommendation/report for consideration by the council authorized licensing officer.
8. After processing, the licensing officer, shall where it is satisfied that an application meets the requirements for the issuance of license, issue to the applicant a dog license subject to such conditions as it may deem fit.
9. A person whose application for a license has been approved shall pay a license fee specified against the license he/she applies for as mentioned under the “Fees” section of this page while collecting the license and produce their identification document.
10. A dog that is licensed, shall have its license in a metal tag affixed to its neck by means of a dog collar at all times. Dog collar shall disclose the particulars of the owner, viz. full names, current contact numbers, plot number, and the dog name.
11. In addition to a dog license issued by the Council and collar, the owner of a dog shall at his/her own expense have the dog inserted with a microchip by an authorized veterinary surgeon in such a way that the microchip can be detected by a scanning device; the microchip shall contain same details as the dog collar.
    

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Required Documents

• Valid vaccination certificate.
• Valid identification document of the owner/guardian of the dog.
  

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of Local Development and Rural Development
Private Bag 006
Government Enclave Main Mall
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 365-8400
Fax. 395 2382
Toll-free: 0800-600-718
Ministry Contact Details
Local Authority Contact Details
Opening hours: 07:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except during public holidays& weekends.

Eligibility

• Owner/guardian of a dog (male and female) aged 3 months and above are eligible to apply.
• The dog in respect should have been inoculated against rabies.
• The dog resides within Gaborone city (or any Major City in Botswana)
  

Fees

Gaborone city prescribe license Fee;

• Ordinary Dog License P100.00
• Breeding Dog License P500.00
• Guard Dog License P600.00
  

Other fees

• Duplicate license P50.00
• Annual license fee; 20 % of the dog license
• Additional dog licenseP100.00
  

Validity

The dog license shall be valid for an indefinite period unless suspended, revoked, or cancelled by the authority;however, the license is subjected to an annual license fee.

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.gIn the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

LIMITATION OF NUMBER OF DOGS ON LAND OR PREMISSES

• A person shall keep a maximum of two (2) dogs in a residential place.
  

STANDARD FOR KEEPING OF DOGS
The occupier of any premises on which any dog is kept shall take all steps reasonably necessary to;

• Ensure the dog is kept under control at all times;
• Ensure the dog has adequate shelter, water, and food;
• Prevent the keeping of a dog beneath the floor of any building;
• Restrain the dog behind a fence;
• Prevent a dog from becoming a nuisance or danger to any other animals, person, or property;
• Ensure that the dog receives proper care and attention;
• To display in a prominent place on the premises, a notice indicating there is a dog on the premises; the notice shall state as follows TSHABA NTSA/BEWARE OF THE DOG in a place clearly to be seen by any member of the public.
• shall ensure proper disposal of dog feces and any other related nuisance such that it does not cause a nuisance to the neighbors
  

CONTROL OF DOG

• The owner or person responsible for the dog shall keep the dog under control at all times.
• The owner or person responsible for the dog must ensure that the dog is restrained by a lead or leash which is secured or held by a person capable of physically controlling the dog while in any public place or area (not being an off-lead exercise area)
• The owner or person responsible for the dog shall ensure that the dog cannot leave any private property unless it is under the control of its owner or a responsible person at or in a designated area.
• Any dog found in a public place not being on an off-lead exercise area and not being on a leash or lead shall be considered to be uncontrolled and may be seized and impounded by any duly authorized officer(s) at the expense of the owner.
• Any owner of a dog impounded on two or more occasions within any 6 months period shall be required to neuter the dog and provide evidence to that effect from a vet doctor.
• Menacing and dangerous dog(s) must be muzzled and on lead or leash when in any public place or area.
  

DOGS IN VEHICLE; No person shall;

• Take a dog(s) in a motor vehicle or leave a dog(s) unattended in a vehicle or on the open tray or any vehicle unless the dog(s) is physically secure so that the dog(s) cannot lunge, bite or snap at passersby and is unable to leave the vehicle.
  

AREAS PROHIBITED TO DOG(S)

• No owner shall allow or take a dog(s) on to any place or area designated as a prohibited area shall areas include;
  • Government enclave and Parastatal areas, Public Offices
  • City Council Public Library
  • Children’s playing areas in Gaborone City
  • All areas in City Council are set aside for organized games or sport and all other areas are zoned as Sports Park in the City.
  • All Schools, Hospitals/Clinics, All Public Areas and Trading premises
  • Note, the above Bye-Law shall not apply to special purpose dogs
    

Required Information

• Full name of the owner/Guardian of the dog
• Name of the dog
• Contact details of the owner
• Residential address of the owner
• Declaration by the applicant
• Dog breed/gender
• Identity document number
• Description of the dog and all its details
  

Need for the Document

No person shall own or keep any dog within Gaborone city (or any Major City in Botswana) unless that person is in possession of a valid license for the dog.

Information which might help

• All licenses are issued together with an identification tag to be displayed by the dog
• The dog is to wear at all reasonable times an identification tag collar on which shall be affixed-
  • The license label issued with such license; and
  • The name and address of the keeper are inscribed on it or on a plate or identification tag attached to it.
• An identification tag shall not be attached to any other dog than the dog in respect of which the license was issued.
  

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

This document can be used by owners of dogs to join prestigious kennel clubs.

External Links

Ministry of Local Development and Rural Development

Others

CANCELLATION OF PERMIT

• The Council may at any time while a license is in force revoke the license if the Council is satisfied that the keeping of the dog or dogs on the land or premises specified in the license;
  • Has caused or materially contributed to a nuisance or the likelihood of injury to health or loss of life; or
  • There has been a failure to comply with all or any of the terms, conditions, and restrictions of the license or directives of the Council.
• Where a license has been revoked, the licensee shall return the license in question to the Council within 7 days from the date notice served.
• Where the owner of a revoked license applies for a new license, the application shall be treated as a new application.
• Once a license is revoked, the dog shall be removed from the premises and impounded until the conditions that caused the cancellation are met by the owner. All costs of the impound shall be the owner’s responsibility and will remain a civil debt recoverable under law.