'Barking dogs a nuisance,' says mayor

Martin Moyo, the Bulawayo mayor,  left councillors in stitches when he said dogs should not bark.

The mayor said this at a full council meeting held at the city chambers on Thursday.

"Dogs should not bark as they make a lot of noise for neighbours.

"They should be trained to attack quietly," he said.

Moyo said every dog should be vaccinated.

"Dogs should be vaccinated against rabies.

"Owners should take care of their dogs because many a times, dogs are hit by cars as they will be loitering on the streets," he said.

Jeremiah Mlandu, who has three pet dogs, said training a dog not to bark is dangerous.

"If we train dogs not to bark, it means we will not be alert when they attack people.

"There is a reason why God made dogs bark," he said.

Malvin Dube said it is impossible to train dogs not to bark because that is their means of communication.

He said it is just the same as saying people should not talk.

An eight-year-old was killed by two bull dogs in Cowdray Park recently.

The dogs came out through the gate while their owner Bruce Dliwayo was driving in.

Dliwayo rushed to save the child when he heard the dogs barking but to no avail.