Pet dog owners who fail to register their pets and individuals who feed stray dogs in public places and roadsides will be penalised beginning Monday. The Department of Livestock initiated this to achieve its target of 100 per cent dog sterilisation and sustain the dog population in the country. It is also to build safe and clean communities.
As per the initiative, if a person is found with an unregistered pet dog, he or she will be fined Nu 1,000. Similarly, failing to restrain pet dogs within their private premises and failing to secure them on a leash while taken to public areas will also be slapped with a fine of Nu 1,000 respectively.
According to the Nationwide Accelerated Dog Population Management (NADPM) and Rabies Control Programme (RCP), a fine of Nu 5,000 will be levied respectively for those who translocate animals from one place to another, abandon pet animals, fail to abide by animal welfare standards and feed stray dogs in public places, highways and roadsides.
“It is our target to register all the pet dogs in the country. Without the enforcement of such strict rules, people will otherwise turn a deaf ear. This is why it is important to initiate such a system in place. We carried out research and found out that one of the main reasons for the increase in stray dog population is due to pet dogs,” said Dr Kinley Dorji, Team Leader, NADPM & RCP.
Some of the people BBS talked to welcomed the initiative.
“The public will be benefitted. The dog owners will take up the responsibility to register their dogs. They will also take proper care of their dogs. I think fines and penalties will benefit the whole country,” said Kezang Dawa, a resident.
“When dogs are kept without proper care, it is risky. If a fine is imposed, people will not feed dogs everywhere they prefer. As a result, this will reduce the risk for the general public,” said Lhamo, another resident.
Livestock officials added that they will strictly inspect to ensure that people abide by the rules.
“The inspection team will consist of officials from Thromde, BAFRA and Livestock. And for other districts, in place of Thromde officials, we will have officials from the district administration. The team will go from place to place inspecting,” said Dr Kinley Dorji.
He added that of the 100,000 dogs in the country, about 56,000 dogs have been sterilised including more than 20,000 registered pet dogs.
The Nationwide Accelerated Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Programme which began last year will end this month.
Nidup Dorji
Edited by Tshering Zam
