Chamba MC to tag pets to curb stray dog menace

In response to a surge in stray dog attacks, the Chamba Municipal Council has launched a pet dog tagging drive aimed at distinguishing stray and pet dogs. The initiative requires residents to register their pet dogs for Rs 100, following which identification collars will be provided.

The council’s teams are actively visiting different wards to encourage dog owners to register their pets at the council office. Chairperson Neelam Nayar emphasised that tagging would allow authorities to differentiate pets from strays, enabling more effective measures to address the stray dog problem.

The drive comes after several incidents in which stray dogs attacked over two dozen residents in just two days, leading to widespread fear. In the wake of these attacks, locals have been carrying sticks for protection while venturing out. While the council has culled eight stray dogs, the planned vaccination campaign has been delayed due to the absence of dog catchers expected from Dharamsala.

Officials from the Animal Husbandry Department have stressed the importance of vaccinating both pets and strays to prevent rabies outbreaks. Since September 28, they have vaccinated around 1,200 pet dogs across the Chamba district, although there is no precise data on the total number of pet dogs in the area.

The Municipal Council has also warned that penalties will be enforced if pet dogs are found without their tags, or if registered pets go missing. However, the overall effort to control the stray dog population remains incomplete due to the delay in capturing the animals for vaccination.

In addition to the tagging campaign, the Animal Husbandry Department has advised residents to ensure their pets receive regular vaccinations and has urged the public to boil unpasteurised milk to prevent rabies transmission. The department has plans to collaborate with local organisations to vaccinate and sterilise stray dogs, aiming to curb both the spread of rabies and the increasing stray dog menace.

Despite efforts from both the Municipal Council and the Animal Husbandry Department, public concern remains high, and there are ongoing calls for more decisive action to protect residents from future attacks.