Tasleem Gierdien24 April 2025 | 8:49

City of Cape Town domestic animal survey: ‘I want us to do better by our animal companions’

The City is conducting its first domestic animal survey. JP Smith explains why.

City of Cape Town domestic animal survey: ‘I want us to do better by our animal companions’

CapeTalk's John Maytham speaks to Alderman JP Smith, the City of Cape Town's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security. 

Listen below:

The City is currently in the process of conducting its first domestic animal survey.

The survey aims to gather data on Cape Town’s pet population and help shape future planning and interventions around animal welfare. 

The City has received 13,037 completed surveys so far.

The campaign ends at the end of April. 

The survey asks owners about how many pets they have, their vaccination and sterilisation status and the type of animal healthcare accessed in times of need.

Already well established are the by-laws around animal keeping and a dedicated Animal Control Unit within Law Enforcement; City funding for more than a decade of mass sterilisation campaigns undertaken by the Cape Animal Welfare Forum (CAWF); the establishment of an anti-dogfighting task team and a memorandum of understanding on the impoundment of dangerous animals or animals in distress.

The City has deployed teams of field workers to engage residents directly, while residents with pets can also complete the survey online.

"... we know that people are most important and the City is doing a lot to enhance the quality of life for people everywhere, but we share our City with animal companions in our houses, on our streets... and if you have an unhealthy animal population, you have an unhealthy human population."
- Alderman JP Smith, Safety and Security - City of Cape Town
"We can start building up a representative picture so that when we speak to Provincial or National Government, we can say to them that the City is carrying the can for the bulk of this animal welfare stuff... It's not assigned to us in the Constitution, and we need you to step up..."
- Alderman JP Smith, Safety and Security - City of Cape Town
"My secret agenda is that I love animals... I do want to see us do better by our animal companions... I think a civilisation can be measured by how they treat the most vulnerable in their community... how you treat the animals in your community tells you a lot about the culture of a City or community, and I think we can all do better... I see a lot of cruelty and neglect around me, and I think it reflects poorly on all of us if that is widespread... we have no intention of levying any license or any fee... the purpose of the survey is to have decent and more accurate data."
- Alderman JP Smith, Safety and Security - City of Cape Town

Field workers conducting the in-person surveys will carry identification cards when visiting properties. Residents can contact the City’s Customer Call Centre on 0860 103 089 to verify a staff member’s credentials.

The City has also set up a toll-free number for general queries or concerns about the survey – 0800 212 176, available weekdays between 8 am and 4 pm.