The Hindu : March 31 deadline for licensing pet dogs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

March 31 deadline for licensing pet dogs

By Afshan Yasmeen

BANGALORE, MARCH 2. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has intensified its dog licensing campaign. The civic body has asked people to get their pet dogs licensed by March 31.

Unlicensed dogs found on streets after March 31 will be impounded, and the administrative expenses incurred on this recovered from their owners.

The civic body also plans to sterilise the impounded dogs and auction them, G. Lokesh, Chief Health Officer, BMP, told The Hindu on Tuesday.

Owners of pet dogs are required by law to obtain a licence for keeping them. Though the BMP started licensing dogs three years ago, the campaign got a boost only this year.

The civic body had strengthened its stray dog control measures and also started a 100 per cent sterilisation programme with the help of animal welfare organisations in all wards, Dr. Lokesh said.

Licences would be issued in the office of the Medical Officer of Health and the owners can apply in the prescribed form (priced at Rs. 10) along with the anti-rabies vaccination certificate issued by a qualified veterinary doctor, he said.

The licence, to be issued on the same day, would be given with a badge having the BMP's seal on it. The badge should be affixed on the dog's collar. The licence should be renewed every year by paying Rs. 50, Dr. Lokesh explained.

As the law permitted the BMP to kill only dogs that are incurably ill or rabid, it planned to introduce a "zero-garbage campaign" in select health wards, where the number of stray dogs is high. "We have realised that effective solid waste management is the only solution to control the menace. That is why we are setting up scientific landfills in identified areas," the official pointed out. "The budgetary allocation for stray dog control increased from Rs. 1.1 crore to Rs. 1.5 crore this year. We expect a revenue of Rs. 5 lakh from the licensing campaign," he added.

Details on obtaining the licence can be had from Dr. Lokesh on 22239033; health officers (West — 23444286; East — 25583204; and South — 26566356); and Deputy Director (Animal Husbandry) 22238545.

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