Licences issued by local bodies will be mandatory for domesticated dogs in the district.
People who own dogs without licences, which will have to be obtained before September 30, will be penalised. A decision to this effect was taken at a recent meeting of the authorities concerned and local government representatives here.
The local governments, in association with the Animal Husbandry Department, will organise camps to provide anti-rabies vaccination to dogs. Vaccination is a pre-requisite for obtaining licences. Vaccine has been made available at all veterinary hospitals in the district, officials say.
District panchayat president G. Venugopal has asked panchayats to form regional monitoring committees for implementing the decisions taken at the meeting. District Collector Veena N. Madhavan urged local body heads to ensure that only duly permitted methods were adopted to tackle the problem.
Sterilisation centres
Efforts are on to implement the decision on sterilisation of dogs. The Animal Husbandry Department will open two sterilisation centres in the district, where operation theatres will be set up. The plan is to open the first centre in Alappuzha by October. Measures will be initiated to ensure proper management of waste from abattoirs and wayside fish-vending outlets with a view to minimising the menace.
Local bodies will have to identify areas where the problem is acute. Dog-catchers will have to be engaged to take the dogs to rehabilitation centres for sterilisation. The project also intends to incorporate agencies interested in animal welfare.
Panchayats will have to find the money for the project from their Plan funds.
