Park rules & dog code

Environmental Management Program for walkers accompanied by dogs in Table Mountain National Park Section 4   -   Code of conduct for dog walking in the TMNP Dogs transgressing provisions of the Code may be deemed not to be under control Dogs must be under VOICE or other signal control at all times. Dog handlers must always carry a leash. Dogs must be leashed:- i)   If the handler is unable to control the dog or if it is vicious or otherwise dangerous. ii)   While passing through any demarcated area. iii)   At the start of a walk, through car parks and at access points. iv)   While passing through a picnic and/or braai sites. v)   When the handler sees indigenous wild life. vi)   On reasonable request by other Park users. vii)   Upon instruction from a Park official. Dog handlers must be aware that not everyone is familiar with dogs. They must have control of their dogs at all times and not allow them to interfere with the pleasure of others using the Park. When meeting a leashed dog, the handler of the unleashed dog should provide space for both dogs to pass without incident. Unleashed dogs must be discouraged from running up to leashed dogs. Vicious dogs must be muzzled, on request from a Park official. Give right of way to people unaccompanied by dogs. Dog handlers must be responsible for removing their dog's faeces from paths, car parks and any other areas used by pedestrians. Faeces should preferably be removed or deposited in bins, where provided. Bitches in heat may not be walked in the Park. Dog handlers must ensure that their dogs do not chase or injure wild life. Park notices must be complied with. No more than two dogs per person may be taken into the Park except by special permission from CPNP. Dog handlers are to remain on Park-approved paths and tracks at all times. No new paths may be created and no shortcuts are to be taken. This code is based on ordinary common sense! The most important thing is BE AWARE. When you go for a walk are you caught up in chatting, talking on your cell, vigorously jogging? Or are you watching your dog? It is very unfair on the people who leash their dogs in car parks or at the beginning of a walk if you don't do the same. Lots of dogs are quite aggressive while on leads. They are guarding their owners and cars. So it is stressful when other dogs come bouncing up. Dog's mess. The perennial problem. To those people who still let their dogs do it on the paths and car parks - Do you realise how much ammunition you are giving to those who would like dogs off the mountain??. If you are near a bin, use it. Further along the road, if they MUST do it on the path, get a stick and shove it off as far as you can on to soft surfaces where the small creatures will help to break it down. Also, if you can, cover it with leaves and sticks so that it causes as little offence as possible. The really destructive thing is dog's urine on metal. Keep your male dog away from poles, car wheels etc. Board walks. These cause a lot of confusion. The boardwalks leading to the Silvermine Dam are off limits to dogs because they lead to the picnic area. They are made for, and broad enough for, wheel chairs. Other boardwalks are laid down to protect fragile roots at the side of the paths. Unfortunately, some of these boards are too narrow. The dogs run alongside their owners on the ground and the object of the boardwalks is defeated. You can see this damage in Newlands Forest. Please don't let your dogs run alongside. The boardwalks in the forests of Echo Valley and Spes Bona (above Kalk Bay) are much broader. They were designed in collaboration with FDW. Before they were constructed these beautiful forests were being progressively destroyed from compaction caused by feet and paws. Please keep yourselves and your dogs firmly on these boardwalks. Wild and Cape Town cards. TMNP requires everyone who takes a dog into the park area to have either one of these. They will not let you through the Silvermine gates without one. When you buy a card at Westlake make sure to tell them that you will be taking in a dog and this must be entered on their database. They should ask you at the office if you want to take in dogs, cycle etc, but they never do. The ultimate idea is that park rangers will have hand held machines to read the cards and check whether they are endorsed for dogs. They also want you to have ID to identify you as the card owner. You could produce a driver's licence. TMNP phone no is 021 7018692. If all this sounds too complicated for words, don't blame FDW. Not our idea! Any comments, questions? Don't hesitate to email FDW.

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