Village council in Mokokchung orders owners to get rid of pet dogs

Failure to comply with diktat will invite penalty of INR 5000; a pig as fine if pets are found again

Our Reporter
Dimapur, June 13 (EMN): Even after repeated orders from district administrations and campaigns against animal cruelty, pet owners continue to bear the brunt of insensitive orders from local authorities.

After the “shoot-at-sight” order for dogs by local authorities was revoked by various district administrations, a village council in Mokokchung is said to have issued a bizarre order.

The local authorities have reportedly ordered all the households to get rid of their pet dogs failing which the defaulters will have to pay a fine of INR 5000. Further, the order stated that “if found with pets within three days after the first checking, a pig as a fine will be imposed the second time”.

Animal lovers from across the state have appealed to the Mokokchung local authorities to allow the pets to live freely.

Pet Guardians Mokokchung, a group consisting of about 191 members, which was formed to address issues relating to animals in Mokokchung, has written a letter to the deputy commissioner of Mokokchung, which is yet to be submitted, to act on the ‘arbitrary order’ issued by the village council with regard to domestic animals.

A member of Pet Guardians Mokokchung made a copy of the appeal letter for the DC available to Eastern Mirror.

The group, in its letter to the DC, reminded that with regard to a “shoot-at-sight of dogs” order issued by some local authorities in Mokokchung, the DC office had issued an order vide No.Dev-79.2020 on May 21, in tune with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960, prohibiting any village/ward authorities/individuals/groups to issue any ‘shoot-at-sight’ order against dogs.

“Recently, it has come to our knowledge that a village council in Mokokchung has issued an order to all pet owners within its jurisdiction to get rid of all domestic pets, failing which defaulters would have to pay a fine of INR 5000. Further, a fine in the form of a pig would be levied if the pets have not been rid of three days after the first inspection,” the letter read.

“We are dismayed, and at the same time, confounded by such an inhumane order. The village council cannot expect the pet owners to ‘get rid’ of their pets. If the pets, in any way, cause any nuisance or pose a threat to the public, we understand that it is the responsibility of the pet owner to take necessary action. However, if the pet in any way does not cause any nuisance or poses any threat and is kept within the residence of the pet owner, then we fail to understand the issuance of any order to harm, hurt or destroy the pets,” it added.

The Covid-19 pandemic has given rise to unproven rumours that animals can spread the virus. The group added that “we know that your esteemed authority is well aware that the same is a baseless statement, but in situations like this people tend to act without verifying the veracity of the news”.