Date:03/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/03/stories/2007060318320300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Dog licensing camp evokes poor response

Staff Reporter

Only 122 pet dog licences were issued on Saturday

NOT MANY TAKERS: A BBMP office on Queen's Road in Bangalore was one of the places where a dog licensing camp was held on Saturday. — Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

BANGALORE: There was lukewarm response to the dog licensing camp organised by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) across 10 centres in the East Range, with only 122 pet dog licences being issued on Saturday.

The camp was conducted at the BBMP health offices of Koramangala (Austin Town), Shantinagar (near Johnson Market), Jeevanbimanagar (Domlur), Bansawadi (Ulsoor), Bharati Nagar (Mini Avenue Tank Road, Ulsoor North), Shivajinagar (Queen's Road), Sarvagnanagar (Cox Town Dispensary building), Jayamahal (Sultanji Gunta Road, Bamboo Bazaar), K.G. Halli (Lazar Layout) and Hebbal (Bellary Main Road).

While only two licences were issued at the Shantinagar health office, which covers Richmond Town, Anglo Indian Quarters, Victoria Layout, Vivek Nagar and a part of Austin Town; five licences were issued at Koramangala and Banaswadi health offices respectively.

The number of licences issued in the other offices is as follows: Bharati Nagar and Shivajinagar (6 each), Hebbal (12), Jayamahal (13), K.G. Halli (22) and Sarvagnanagar (26).

The poor response was despite the fact that officers of the BBMP went round the areas and met residents urging them to take licences.

"We met around 500 residents who have pets. Most of them, including those had to renew the licences, did not turn up," said a health officer.

The officials said they could not get adequate time to create awareness about the camp. "We were given very short notice by the higher-ups to prepare for the camp," another officer said. Moreover, the camp was scheduled on a working day, he added.

The Hindu team, which went around some of the health offices, found that there were no figures with regard to the total number of dogs in the area. "The only number that we have is from the list of licences that had been issued for pet dogs many years ago," an official said.

At the camps, one BBMP personnel was deputed to register the name of the licensee and details of the dog. A sum of Rs. 10 was collected as the cost of application form. The services of a veterinary doctor and interns were used to administer anti-rabies vaccine to the dog. The Compassion Unlimited Plus Action has provided three vials of the vaccine to each of 10 venues of the licence camps.

The licence was being issued for 2007-08 in the form of a booklet. This new booklet has to be produced for renewal of licence annually till 2016. In addition to the licence, the licensee was given a badge, which needs to be put on the collar of the dog.