No response from the mayor on dog control

IN response to Enforce bylaws (“Dog control unit ineffective”, April 6) – and the many before, I fully agree with the Enforce bylaws and the other correspondents regarding this matter. I have also had a similar experience. I have neighbours who leave their dogs unattended at weekends, train dogs with whips and allow their dogs to bark non-stop for hours at a time.

I contacted dog control and I turned out to be the bad guy.

The neighbour breaking the law was a non-issue as my dog barked at the neighbour when he teased her.

Literally, the only time my dog ever barked is when the neighbour did this, but suddenly that’s the real problem.

Dogs barking for eight-plus hours a day and dogs being whipped, not a problem.

I have another neighbour whose dog barks for hours on end.

The noise level at weekends is ridiculous.

I decided I would skip dog control and ask the councillor for Walmer to assist.

I only asked for a phone call or a letter in the postbox explaining the bylaws to the neighbour.

I didn’t think that was too much to ask. It turns out this was impossible. First he told me that bylaws could not be enforced.

Then a year after my first request the councillor made a visit with the dog control unit, but the dog was quiet and they said they couldn’t gain entry to the premises.

Fair enough, but surely he could drop a letter in the postbox while there? Anyway, one quick visit and case closed.

It has now been 16 months since my first request.

About three weeks ago I saw mayor Athol Trollip tweeting, so I decided I’d ask him how I got some assistance.

Someone from his office then took my particulars and the details of the complaint.

The dog still is barking and no feedback.

I asked a week ago via Twitter, no response.

They did, however, tell me that from now on the metro police would be attending to these complaints.

In summary, it would seem that we have a dog control unit that doesn’t function.

According to the mayor’s Twitter account, this job now belongs to the metro police.

So exactly what reason is there for the dog unit’s existence? If we can’t control the petty crime, how are we going to win the fight against crime?

Whatsup, Port Elizabeth