Local bodies in Kozhikode to initiate stringent measures against people who abandon pets

In response to a disturbing surge in cases of owners abandoning pet dogs, the local administrators in Kozhikode district have announced stringent crackdown on violators of animal welfare and licensing laws.

Action comes against the wake of an upward trend in dog bites and rabies cases across the State, particularly those resulting from street dogs.

Stringent enforcement of registration rules for pet dogs is under consideration to make the pet owners accountable and prepare an accurate record of dog handlers in each panchayat. Unregistered owners will have to face hefty fines apart from legal consequences.

“The enforcement of registration rules will mainly ensure that the dogs are properly vaccinated and free from infectious diseases. Such stringent monitoring will also reduce abandoning of pets,” said a local body member from Koodaranhi grama panchayat where the administrators decided to implement the rules strictly. He also said the panchayat secretary had already initiated measures to prepare a list of unregistered dog owners and proceed with the legal measures.

Wandering dogs to be captured

“Along with legal action, wandering dogs will be captured and shifted to shelter homes jointly run by the Animal Husbandry department and the Kudumbashree Mission,” says grama panchayat president Adarsh Joseph. He also makes it clear that people who abandon pets having infectious diseases or age-related issues will have to face the music and heightened surveillance measures will be in place.

The local administrators in Balussery, Chelannur, Koduvally, Kunnamangalam, Perambra, and Vadakara have also come up with similar action plans, which will be intensified in the days to come in accordance with the latest instructions from the district panchayat. People who still handle banned dog breeds or run backyard breeding units without proper facilities and hygienic standards will also be exposed.

Move welcomed

Animal rights activists have welcomed the move in villages, where the number of abandoned dogs continues to be a concern. They point out that microchips should be made mandatory for all dogs.

E.K. Rajeev, an activist who has adopted several such abandoned dogs, points out that such pedigree breeds are not even street-smart and have been found struggling to survive. According to them, what we need is a responsible group of pet owners who can emerge as volunteers to transform the irresponsible ones.

“High treatment cost, especially for medical tests, is one of the reasons for increasing pet abandonment. There should be some permanent solutions to address such concerns,” says K. Vineetha, another animal rights activist. At-least the rescuers in the field should be extended some concessions to take care of such dogs, she says.