Punjab cities to get special pet clinics

There is low footfall in city hospitals as cattle are not allowed in corporation area. We are shutting down 54 vet hospitals in city areas. BALBIR SINGH SIDHU, Punjab animal husbandry minister

Sensitive to the trend of cattle rearing falling steeply in cities and urban residents increasingly taking to keeping dogs or pets, the state government plans to open specialised pet clinics in all major cities.

State animal husbandry minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, in town to inspect the facilities at the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL), said, on Friday, “These clinics will provide quality health services to pets.”

On how will the government arrange logistics and staff, as veterinary hospitals were short of staff, the minister said, “There is low footfall in city hospitals as cattle are not allowed in corporation area. We are shutting down 54 veterinary hospitals in city areas.”

Admitting that there was shortage of 350-400 veterinary inspectors and doctors, he added that the state government had decided to recruit 106 veterinary inspectors, the process for which had been started.

There is also a plan to hire veterinary doctors.

“Polyclinics will be wellequipped. Shortage of any medicines must be displayed on boards,” he added. Prior to visiting the RDDL, Sidhu had attended a religious function at the controversial dera Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan in Nurmahal.