Only 31 pets registered in 2 years

JMC’s pet registration campaign fails miserably

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 11: The two year-long campaign of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) for registration of pets has yielded sorry figure as only 31 pet dogs have been registered so far. Even, the warnings issued by JMC have failed to produce desired result. Now, the civic body has once again initiated the campaign in order to push the campaign further.

JMC has started registration process of all the pet dogs falling under 71 wards in September 2011 but after the passage two year only a merge population has been registered.

Official said that the after the registration, the owners are liable to keep them legally otherwise they will be fined as per the act. For the registration the owners have to fill the application form and deposit two photographs of the pet with its name, sex, breed, age, immunization record, color and identification mark.

Officials added that if anyone found keeping a pet dog without registration he or she will be fined.

When contacted, Municipal Veterinary Officer, Dr Zaffar said that the corporation has registered only 31 pet dogs as the people are not much aware about the registration of their dogs.

He further said that the corporation has notified several advertisements regarding the registration of the pet dogs, and now we are getting the response from the people side as compared to the last years.

“After registering their pets the registered dog gets free medical treatment for year by the corporation,” he added.

He maintained that the registration fee is Rs 500 and the renewal fee every year would be charged as a sum of Rs 300 adding that a metal badges will be issued by JMC for the dog.

“Two years have been passed but not even a single person who keeps a pet dog in the city has been penalized for not registering their canine with the corporation” said a social activist Naveen Kumar.

Shanti Sharma, a local resident said leaving aside the problem of the stray animals, this move is nothing but to force the people to pay for keeping pets. Corporation should give more consideration to other issues.