From now on all dogs must be collared and leashed while out in public areas. Saga Humane Society, along with the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) and San Pedro Police Department, have teamed up to enforce the Belize Dog Act, Chapter 153. The initiative is set to kick off on Saturday, August 15th with a sensitization effort by the police department, and enforcement will begin on Tuesday, September 1st. The implementation of this regulation will not only benefit island pets and pet owners, but also the wider community, including visitors, as the streets will be safer and cleaner.
According to Section 10 (1) of the Dog Act of The Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, "Whenever a dog is seen in a town, on a highway or in a place of public resort in any of the following cases- (a) not having a collar/leash with a licensing badge for the current year attached thereto; or (b) appearing to be a stray or ownerless dog; or (c) being a bitch in heat and being neither led nor carried; or (d) suffering from any contagious disease and not being carried; or (e) suffering from any disease or injury which causes pain to the dog and being neither led nor carried, that dog may be seized by any police officer or dog catcher and the owner of the dog shall in cases (a), (b) and (c) be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars."
In order to uphold the regulations, the San Pedro Police Department will be distributing flyers at several designated check points on Saturday, August 15th. These flyer will alert the community of the upcoming enforcement of the regulation that all dogs who are in a public area must be wearing a humane collar and must be leashed and in the control of their owner at all times. Also at the checkpoint providing further information will be Saga volunteers and SPTC staff members.
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