INCONSIDERATE animal lovers, trainers and breeders who make their neighbours unhappy with their beastly behaviour could face the wrath of the authorities and hefty fines.
Anyone who introduces farm animals or birds to their residential properties will face serious administrative and legal action, if councillors get their way.
The issue was raised and an action plan agreed at the Southern Municipal Council’s weekly session. “Bahrainis love animals, but there is a line between loving them and harassing and bothering other residents,” said council chairman Bader Al Tamimi. “Tough action needs to be taken immediately.”
Council services and public utilities committee chairman Abdulla Abdullatif said a Bahraini family, for example, had expanded their home poultry business, despite being warned not to by the authority.
“A Bahraini family with a chicken coop and hatchery at their Buhair home has now set up cash registers to sell fresh eggs at the back,” he said. “We now need a system with government backing to be able to take swift and decisive action.”
The coops set up inside a home in Buhair
Councillor Omar Abdulrahman called for common courtesy to be the rule of the day, citing the case of an East Riffa resident who had a chicken coop on his rooftop. “When asked to remove the birds by neighbours, he told them that the rooster was good as it wakes up people in time for prayers,” he said.
Another case involved a Bahraini who allegedly turned part of his land into a donkey stable. “People live with donkeys in the backyard! This only happens when there is no action taken,” said the authority’s vice-chairman Abdullatif Mohammed who showed a video of 11 donkeys noisily braying at a Tubli property, located near his sister’s home.
Government officials described to the meeting cases they had worked on and the challenges they faced, including one involving an Isa Town resident who turned his home into a training camp for dogs … and even put on regular shows for spectators.
Ms Al Akrawi
“We are dealing with several issues related to the breeding of animals at homes and we are trying to solve them peacefully between neighbours,” said the Health Ministry’s Public Health Directorate Malaria and Insects Group supervisor Fatima Al Akrawi.
“We are not allowed to enter premises unless people invite us in. In cases in which we receive a complaint and cannot resolve the issue, we ask the police and the municipality to help us out.
“If this fails too then we can take the case to the Public Prosecution and they can enter homes using the power of the law.”
She also highlighted incidents that had ‘got out of control’. “An Isa Town resident kept cages on the rooftop and threw his dead pigeons between the gap of his house and a neighbouring property. It ended in a scuffle and the police becoming involved,” explained Ms Al Akrawi.
The Southern Municipal Council voted unanimously to call for concerted action against offenders, co-ordinated between the Health Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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