Movement & Keeping of Dogs

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 7 and the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, and other relevant Sections of the Local Government Act, Laws of the FCT Abuja 2006, the Bwari Area Council hereby makes this Bye-Law governing the movement and keeping of dogs within its territorial jurisdiction.

As from the commencement of this Bye-Law, it shall be compulsory for every person(s), individual or corporate body having charge or custody of dogs to register and obtain a permit from the Area Council.

Key Permit Conditions

• Permit shall be in the form set out in the First Schedule to this Bye-Law and expires on the 31st day of December in the year issued.
• No permit shall be issued unless the dog(s) has been vaccinated against rabies and a valid certificate is produced upon payment of the prescribed fee.
• A Register shall be kept containing sufficient particulars of the permit holder and of the dog(s).
• The dog permit shall be renewed every year. Permit includes License.

It shall be an offence for the owner/keeper of any dogs to allow them to stray or move about the streets, lanes, crescents or any part of the territorial confines of the Bwari Area Council.

The court may impose both fine and imprisonment. Jurisdiction is vested in the Magistrate Court of any grade.

• Any dog that strays into a street, road, crescent, lane, or other public space within the territorial confines of Bwari Area Council shall be caught/trapped and taken into the custody of the Council Health Department.
• The dog shall remain in custody until the owner/keeper pays the appropriate fines.
• Where any dog(s) appears medically unfit to an Environmental Health Officer, the officer shall take the dog(s) into custody until the dog(s) is medically fit and sound.
• The dog shall be released to the owner after payment of the appropriate fines.

First Schedule — Form of Permit / License

The permit shall state the name of the license holder, a sufficient description of the dog(s) for identification including distinguishing badge marks, the date of issue, the prescribed fee paid, and the signature, name and rank of the issuing officer. Note: The License expires on 31st December of the year of issue.

Second Schedule — Rabies Vaccination Certificate

The vaccination certificate shall contain the owner's name and address, breed of dog(s), sex, markings, batch number and type of vaccine, the validity date, and the centre where issued. The certificate must be issued by a Medical Officer.