Thiruvananthapuram: Only one dog breeder has applied for Thiruvananthapuram Corporation’s dog breeding licence ever since the R-ABC project was launched in July 2017. Animal rights activists say that there could be more than 100 dog breeders in the city, but the Corporation has evidently not been able to attract their attention. In addition, there would be so many backyard breeders. "In Rajaji Nagar, during a vaccination drive, we noticed that many houses had dog sheds above the roof," says Latha I., trustee, PFA Thiruvananthapuram Chapter.
A review meeting, convened by Mayor V.K. Prasanth on Tuesday, had decided to send out a communication to the public that vaccination and licence is compulsory for pet dogs. They have decided to launch a licensing drive from November 25 to December 25. As per a release issued from the Mayor's office on the meeting, 1,200 pet owners' licences have been issued.
However, it does not comment on breeders' licences. Anup Chandran, an animal rights activist from the city, says, “Perhaps the breeders might not even be aware that the licences are compulsory. The Corporation should have at least put up posters at veterinary hospitals, where most breeders visit." Rs 30 lakhs in the R-ABC project has been allocated for awareness drives.
Earlier, the Corporation elaborating on the licensing and microchip project, a component of the R-ABC project, had announced that microchips will be inserted in both owned dogs and street dogs. Rs 50 lakh was set aside for inserting 35,000 microchips on dogs.
The civic body had said that many of the dogs ending up in streets were abandoned by its owners and placing microchips on all dogs will check this. So, if breeders are not brought under the radar, the objective of the project will not be fulfilled. Since the chips would be inserted when the dogs are brought in for licencing or sterilisation, the number of chips inserted is likely to be under 2,000.
Animal rights activists in the country have been viewing the microchip project in Thiruvananthapuram with suspicion. AWBI member Gauri Maulekhi had told DC it was illogical to be inserting microchips into street dogs, as microchips, unlike radio collars, cannot be used for tracking.
