Meeting discusses stray dog menace, awareness and solutions
REGIONAL: A meeting was convened at the Deputy Commissioner's Chamber in Kohima to address the issue of stray and free-roaming dogs in the area. Serious concerns included incidents of dog bites and the public's discontent over dog waste in public spaces.
The meeting placed onus on owners of the pet, discussed waste management and effective canine control.
The Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) officials informed previous existence of a dog shelter near the Old Zoo, which was closed due to noise complaints from the community. This shelter had provided adequate care for dogs allowing owners to reclaim their pets after paying a fee.
Unclaimed dogs could be adopted after a week, they stated.
While there are no laws against pet ownership, the responsibilities of dog owners to prevent their pets from roaming freely were highlighted. The revival of the dog shelter along with mandatory vaccination and registration for pet dogs was proposed as well as efforts to raise awareness about responsible ownership within local communities.
As a public health initiative, the meeting discussed improving access to veterinary services, particularly vaccinations, at the community level. Educating pet owners about hygiene and responsible practices was also deemed essential.
Suggestions from the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) were welcomed and will be integrated into forthcoming guidelines from the administration.
The meeting explored relocating and reactivating the dog shelter and establishing a reporting mechanism for the public to report free-roaming dogs. The KMC was tasked with presenting an action plan for the dog shelter's management by September 17.