Rwanda National Police (RNP) has called upon owners of dogs to take appropriate measures to restrain them to prevent them from roaming in communities where they are likely to cause insecurity.
The call follows an incident on May 31, where stray dogs bit five goats in Rugoma Cell of Nasho Sector in Kirehe District.
Reacting to the incident, the Eastern Region Police Spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP), Theobald Kanamugire said: “Despite our continued calls, It’s quite unfortunate that there are people who have kept a deaf ear to restrain their pets.”
“We call upon owners of dogs to confine and control them,” he added.
“There are clear laws under which a dog should be handled…If you own a dog, you are required to keep it indoor or leash it when walking with it,” said CIP Kanamugire.
“Under no circumstances should a dog be left to roam in communities unattended to; it must be under full control of its owner or chained and held by an accountable and mature person.”
The ministerial order No. 009/11.30 of 18/11/2010 on animal husbandry especially in its articles 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, underlines the requirements and procedures to own a dog, penalties to owners of abandoned dogs and action taken against stray dogs, including killing them.
