Owners ignorant of rules, few register pets with civic agency

Delhiites are known to flaunt pet dogs of imported breeds but not many owners seem to be aware of the provisions that require them to register their loved companion with the civic agencies.

This is the reason why there are just 400 registered pets in the North Corporation – a civic agency which serves almost a third of the city with 25-million people.  

Civic authorities are inquiring if the English Mastiff which bit an eight-year-old girl in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar was registered with the corporation.

The washerman’s daughter is fighting for her life in a hospital after the dog – weighting about 70 kg – attacked the girl. And even the owner was injured in the brutal attack trying to save the minor.

“Many owners keep pets as showpieces. For them, the bigger the pet, more wealthy they get projected in society,” said a veterinary official with the East Delhi Municipal Corporation.

The East Corporation has 900 legally registered pet dogs.
Another official said there have been instances where the pet owners end up keeping ferocious breeds without knowing that these can cause trouble even for them.

Rottweiler, American Pit Bull Terrier, German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher and Bullmastiff are some dangerous breeds which can cause problems if not trained properly.

So far 46 cases of rabies have come up this year and eight deaths have been reported due to the fatal disease. The corporations have been issuing advisory for people to register their pets.

“The North Delhi Municipal Corporation urges people residing in its limits to get their pet dogs vaccinated against rabies from its veterinary practitioners. The owners are also liable under section 399 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act 1957 to register their pets with the corporation,” said Yogendra Singh Mann,  Director (Press and Information), North and East Corporations.

According to the corporations, names and locations of the offices of deputy directors (veterinary) has been provided at each local civic agencies’ offices.
The municipal corporations said people should stay alert while passing by strays.

“The strays breed in this season and they get furious easily,” said an official.

In all 19,206 strays have been sterilised in the east civic agency this year.

A total number of 9,883 dogs were sterilised by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation from April to August, said a senior official with the civic agency’s rabies control programme.