License for selling dogs
I am very passionate about animal keeping, especially dogs. For many years I have seen young men selling puppies along the roads in some parts of Dar es Salaam and Arusha. I love companion animals and it upsets me to see puppies mistreated by exposing them in the sun and without feeding them properly. In other countries, companion animals are sold only by licensed individuals or entities. Is it not the case in Tanzania?
CT, Dar
The Animals Welfare Act, 2008 (the Act) prohibits selling of companion animals by unlicensed individuals or entities. The Act defines a companion animal to be an animal that, based on its loyalty or playful or beautiful appearance or songs characteristics, is kept by humans for companionship and enjoyment rather than for economic reasons.
Section 21 of the Act requires a seller or dealer of companion animals to be licensed and regulated by a competent authority. It further states that licensed dealers are permitted to purchase companion animals from licensed breeders and to sell the animals only in authorized places. Moreover, by that provision of the Act, the seller is required to avail a full history of the animal, details of the former owner or owners and breeder’s details. Thus, the young men you have been seeing selling dogs along the roads are violating the provisions of the Act.