Home for street dogs and cats

A few years back I saw a foreign woman in trouble with the Temeke Municipal authorities who claimed that the woman was keeping hundreds of dogs and cats in her house in Dar es Salaam. I heard that woman defending herself that she was running that animal caring house legitimately with all support of the Ministry responsible for animals’ welfare. Advise me on the legality of a caring house for animals.
AR, Kigamboni

The foreign woman was justified to run an animal sanctuary. The Animal Welfare Act, 2008 (the Act) requires the local government authority to establish or allow the private sector and or civil society organisation, on application, to establish in their respective areas of jurisdiction animal rescue centers, hospice and sanctuary to care for injured or orphaned animals. Thus, as per section 28(2) of the Act, a local government, an individual or a civil society organisation can make such an application to the Animal Welfare Advisory Council (the Council) to seek permission for establishment of the animal caring houses or hospices.

The law further states that injured, orphaned or diseased animals which are found straying or ownerless shall be taken to the animal sanctuary or hospices established as rescue centers for treatment and care after which they may be returned to the owner upon claiming or adopted by any new owner after recovery. Of course, the owners or the adopters of the animal are obliged to reimburse the expenses which the sanctuary center had incurred in treating or up keeping respective animals.