Parakou: pet owners with wandering animals will have to pay up to 50,000 FCFA.

The city hall of Parakou is strengthening the fight against the wandering of animals throughout the municipal territory. In a radio statement, the municipal authority reminded that the presence of animals on public roads, sidewalks, intersections, markets, and streets of the city is now strictly prohibited.

According to the statement, this measure aims to ensure road safety, protect residents’ property, and maintain public hygiene. The city hall emphasizes that wandering animals “constitute a constant source of danger for road users,” cause traffic accidents, and damage crops, gardens, as well as residents’ properties.

Owners and keepers of animals are therefore encouraged to keep them in secure enclosures or under appropriate supervision to prevent them from wandering on public land.

The municipality warns that any animal found wandering will be immediately taken to the municipal pound. To retrieve their animals, owners will have to pay a fine of 10,000 FCFA per animal for sheep, goats, pigs, and similar, and 50,000 FCFA per head of cattle.

The city hall specifies that these sanctions apply “without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial measures provided by the applicable regulations.”