Milnerton Racecourse Conservation Area
Policy on Domestic Dogs & Cats
The following policy on Domestic Dogs and Cats impacting on the Conservation Area was approved and accepted by the Environmental Management Committee on 30 January 2009.
	» Click here to open the policy document.
Impacts
It is widely known and accepted that domestic dogs and cats do have an impact on natural areas. As the Milnerton Racecourse Conservation Area (MRCA) is a small, closed and isolated system the impact by domestic animals is magnified.
The following are some of the recognised impacts caused by domestic animals in closed natural systems. This list is not exhaustive, but rather highlights the greatest impacts:
•	Disturbance of nesting areas and breeding patterns of birds and small mammals;
•	Reduced recruitment from breeding by increasing mortality rates both directly and indirectly, thereby lowering breeding success;
•	Smaller animals are chased from the conservation areas into road ways and gardens;
•	Domestic animals displace existing natural predators, that may lead to over-predation of small mammals in the conservation area;
•	Increased stress on animals occurring in natural areas can lead to greater susceptibility to pathogens and parasites present in such areas that otherwise would be of little consequence;
•	Increased possibility of introducing new pathogens and parasites into conservation areas;
•	Migrant bird species that would normally utilize the area can be discouraged from utilizing the area.
Management Policy
Framework
The Operational Environmental Management Plan (OEMP) has been compiled to fulfill a condition of approval of the rezoning application by the City of Cape Town and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. Adherence to the OEMP is therefore a legal obligation.
Domestic animals are addressed by the OEMP in Volume 2: Conservation Area, Problem Animal Control – pg 28 & 29. The following specifications relevant to residents and Bodies Corporate are listed:
•	A boundary fence is to be maintained to prevent dogs entering the MRCA.
•	Residents and tenants of precincts or residential development that forms part of the Milnerton Racecourse Development property (Royal Ascot) must control their pets and not allow them to stray into the Milnerton Conservation Area. Appropriate methods of control are to be arranged by the Bodies Corporate.
Penalties
In the event of non-compliance, the OEMP makes provision for the Environmental Management Committee, via its Chair, to issue written warnings as well as monetary penalties for such non-compliance. In such cases, the EMC will issue monetary penalties to Bodies Corporate whose residents are in contravention of the OEMP. It will be up to the Bodies Corporate whether or not they recoup these costs from individual owners or tenants.
Education
In order to facilitate compliance, the EMC has, and will continue to highlight the impacts caused by domestic dogs and cats within the MRCA in an effort to educate those who remain unaware of the requirements of the OEMP on residents and Bodies Corporate of Royal Ascot, and the ecological requirements of the MCA. Signage has also been installed indicating the “No Dogs” policy in the MRCA.
Removal of Domestic Animals from the Conservation Area
The EMC has approached, and will continue to work with the SPCA to address continuing issues. As a last resort, this may lead to the initiating of a humane cat trapping project in cooperation with the SPCA. The EMC will also make use of the “Animals Control By-Law” to achieve the requirements as set out in the OEMP.