PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
At a time when confusion persists on issues related to stray dogs including feeding them, the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) is planning to announce feeding points for dogs. The corporation will ensure that dogs are fed only at dedicated feeding shelters across the city to regulate feeding practices at random public places and reduce the inconvenience caused to locals.
The officials informed that several citizens have been raising concerns over people feeding dogs on roads, which often creates safety concerns, traffic disruptions and hygiene issues. Many urged the corporation to take action to discourage such practices. The issue was also raised in the last board meeting in August by several ward councillors. Responding to this, MCD decided that it will start imposing a fine of Rs 5,000 for feeding dogs in open areas. Before that, the corporation will mark at least 20 feeding points across the city as per the requirement to ensure stray dogs get fed without any issue.
The Dehradun mayor Saurabh Thapliyal stated that the corporation is working on it and will likely announce the feeding points by October. He said that apart from regulating feeding, the corporation is also preparing to conduct a dog census to gather accurate data about the city’s stray population. He stated that this information will help in better planning, resource allocation and tracking of progress in controlling stray numbers. NGOs will also be roped in to assist with the process.
He said that the MCD is further working to strengthen its vaccination programme for stray dogs. Under the new plan, dogs will be vaccinated three times in the first year and once annually thereafter. The initiative aims to improve animal health and reduce risks of disease transmission, he added.
The mayor said that the new measures are intended to strike a balance between animal welfare and public safety. By setting up feeding points, enforcing fines, conducting a census and expanding vaccination coverage, the MCD plans to streamline stray dog management and promote responsible practices among pet owners and citizens, he added.
