Times
of India: Nagpur: Tuesday, 01 September 2015.
Though the
increasing number of pet shops and backyard breeders in the city indicate that
population of pet dogs is increasing, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC)
figures show a decline in the number of pet dogs in the last four years.
A Right To
Information (RTI) query revealed the casual approach of the civic body towards
registering pets. NMC had made it mandatory to procure licences for keeping
dogs. As per the norms, any registered dog found straying in public place is
liable to be seized. Owing to the poor response from pet owners, NMC had
entered into a five-year agreement with Indian Society for Animal Welfare
(ISAW), an NGO, for issuing licences for dogs. Despite this, civic body has
managed to register only a fraction of pet dogs in city.
Information
sought by RTI activist Ankita Shah shows a significant decline in the number of
pet dogs. From September 2012 to March 2013, 642 dogs were registered while
from April 2013 to March 2014, the number decline to 564. This already low
figure dropped to 303 between April 2014 and March 2015. Shockingly from April
to July this year, NMC managed to register only 119 dogs. Pointing out that the
figures seem at a variance with the visibly more dogs and pet shops in the
city, Shah blamed NMC for not implementing the registration process
efficiently. "Although it is mandatory for NMC to issue licence to pet
owners, it is not serious. The numbers are so less that the intention of keeping
city rabies free is getting defeated. Licensing is a good way to ensure pets
are up to date with vaccinations," she said.
NMC charges
200 per dog as the licence fee, the RTI reply had no data regarding utilization
of this money. As per the reply, NMC collected around 3.25 lakh in the last
four years but has no information regarding where the money was utilized.
"If the dog owner is found without licence, the penalty would be higher
than licensing fee. Penalty amount can help generate revenue that could support
the needy stray dogs," Shah said.
Agreeing that
the figures very low, ISAW secretary Pramod Kanitkar said NMC and citizens were
both responsible for the bleak response. "Pet owners must also sincerely
come forward to register and NMC should get strict about it. The civic body
must also take action against illegal backyard breeders and pet shops. It is
important to license pet dogs and ensure proper vaccination as most dog bite
cases concern pet dogs and not strays," he said.
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