The Ernakulam district panchayat has drawn up a comprehensive plan to control street dogs, including compulsory microchipping for pet dogs, licensing for pet owners and breeding centres, and fines for owners who abandon elderly or diseased animals on the streets.
The proposals are part of a district-level effort to address street-dog-related problems and improve the management of domestic animals. The district panchayat is also considering limiting the number of dogs that can be kept in a single household to three. The plan’s implementation details and the proposed limit are yet to be finalised.
Licensing is already required under existing rules, but compliance remains poor, according to the report. Rules on the safe keeping of dogs have also been in place since 2012, but are not being followed adequately. The new approach is intended to establish more accurate records of pet dogs, strengthen owner accountability and act against illegal breeding centres.
The district currently has animal birth control centres at Vadavukode and Mulamthuruthy. More centres will be opened for sterilisation and vaccination, according to the plan. The district panchayat also intends to study the specific problems in each area and identify local solutions rather than relying on a single district-wide response.
Other proposed measures include designated feeding centres for street dogs, special guidance for pet owners, public awareness programmes, and stronger action to prevent the abandonment of dogs. The panchayat also plans to encourage the adoption of street dogs. According to the report, adoption could reduce the number of animals requiring shelter and lower the cost of feeding them.
The plan includes preparing an accurate count of pet dogs in each area. That data could help local authorities identify locations with higher concentrations of domestic and street dogs and assess the need for sterilisation, vaccination, shelter and feeding facilities. The report did not provide a timeline, estimated cost or enforcement mechanism for the proposed measures.
Dr Baby Joseph, former joint director of the Animal Husbandry Department, said that people must be especially careful while handling animals and should follow medical guidance after an injury. She said scratches from cats can also be dangerous and advised people to seek medical attention after such incidents. The district panchayat’s stated next steps are to expand sterilisation and vaccination capacity, prepare area-wise assessments and develop public guidance on responsible animal care.
