The Department of Livestock along with its partnered agencies has started imposing fines on pet dog owners across the country for letting their dogs run loose in public spaces. This is in line with the amended Livestock Rules and Regulations 2022. However, the department says poor support from the public is what deters their efforts in the effective implementation of the regulations.
Here in the capital, the Nationwide Accelerated Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Programme (NCDMRCP) team comprising thromde, BAFRA and livestock officials is inspecting the public spots in Thimphu Thromde. The team began the inspection yesterday from the Motithang area and as they reached Changzamtog, they nabbed two pet dogs, who were out in the public space.
Since they are microchipped, the team traced their owners’ details and fined them Nu 1,000. The team says pet dogs should be kept within the enclosed premises and never let loose in public areas without their owners.
“We are starting our Livestock rules and regulation. Now we are almost done with the registration and microchipping of the pet throughout the country. So we have been advocating not to let your pet loose in the street,” told Dr Kinley Dorji, who is the team leader of NCDMRCP.
Pet dogs are microchipped to store their and owners’ details. If the owner has not had its details and fails to handle his pet dog while taken to open spaces, he will also face a fine of Nu 1,000.
Further, if people abandon or translocate their pet dogs, fail to abide by animal welfare standards and feed stray dogs in public places and roadsides, they will land up paying a fine of Nu 5,000.
Some people that BBS talked to have not fully understood the revised Livestock Rules and Regulations.
“Through Facebook, I have seen that If we feed dogs in an open area, we will be liable for fines. But we haven’t heard that if we have our pet dogs and let them loose in a public area, we will face fines,” said one of the shopkeepers in Thimphu town, Kesar Alley.
A few others have similar views to share.
‘‘When we watched BBS, we came to know that we should not feed wild animals and stray dogs. But we haven’t heard that we will pay fines if we lease our pet dogs in an open area. We also know that if our pet dogs will have to get microchipped and register our details,” added another resident in Thimphu, Sonam Dorji.
Nationwide Accelerated Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Programme team says they have repeatedly created awareness through BBS and print media. However, the public response is still lukewarm. But that said, they are hoping to garner good support in the coming days.
Under the programme, which rolled out in September this year, more than 57,000 dogs across the country were sterilised so far. Of them, over 29,000 were pet dogs and the rest were stray dogs.
The programme’s objective is to sustainably control the canine population to prevent rabies, and noise pollution and ensure public safety.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Pema Lhaden
