Ludhiana’s Pet Registration Programme Goes off the Leash

Ludhiana: The pet registration programme in Ludhiana appears to have gone off track. Initially launched in 2020, the Local Bodies Department, Punjab, was responsible for implementing the Punjab Municipal (Registration and Proper Control of Animal and Vision of Animal Attack), By-laws 2017, to make pet interaction with society more orderly. 

According to the 2011 census, Ludhiana has a population of 17 lakhs, but only 2,444 pets are registered with the Municipal Corporation; out of these 2,444, only 464 pets have had their license renewed. With 15,000 yearly dog bites on average in Ludhiana, it seems neither the corporation nor the citizens are interested in the programme.

Despite stationing its staff at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Dog Park located at Zone D, no significant gains were made. As the Municipal Corporation does not have the provisions to go check door-to-door, pet owners themselves are taking the process lightly. 

Dr Vipul Malhotra, Ludhiana MC’s Veterinary branch, said that they did not have the staff required for a door-to-door checking process, and that more efforts would be put into encouraging people to come forward and register their pets using a short online process. “The process of pet registration was made compulsory for pet owners and breeders as several times they abandon dogs and left them on roads. The registration also helps in getting hold of such people,” said another MC official. The registration fee for a pet in Ludhiana is INR 500. 

The pet registration programme in Ludhiana was launched with positive intentions, as it aimed to help pet animals and ensure that these pets are receiving the proper care they deserve, which included formalities like vaccinations and registration. As a positive step, the registration was made mandatory so the number of dog bite cases and animal cruelty cases can be monitored, and abusing owners and people could be charged for it.