Dog attack: GCC serves notice on pet owner

GUIDELINES FOR TAKING PET DOG TO CORPN PARKS

CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) issued notice to the owner of two Rottweilers that attacked a 5-year-old child at Thousand Lights on Sunday. Corporation Commissioner J Radhakrishnan told reporters that the owner did not have a licence from the local body for rearing the ferocious breed.

The Commissioner assured that an inquiry would be conducted regarding the dog’s vaccination details at the earliest.

Officials are not in a position to provide further details, as the owners of the pet are out of station, added Radhakrishnan. “The Rottweilers come under the list of ferocious breeds banned by the central government recently. The pet owner has a license from the Kennel Club of India. But a pet licence from the Corporation is mandatory to track the dog’s vaccination details,” he added.

The official added that the child attacked by the pet dog has been admitted to a private hospital and surgery has been performed. The Corporation is monitoring the health status of the child, he said.

“There are various challenges faced by the civic body while catching stray dogs for animal birth control surgeries and immunisation, as we are controlled by stringent rules laid down by the Animal Welfare Board of India,” Radhakrishnan added. “Apart from anti-rabies vaccination for stray dogs, we have been vaccinating them with six-in-one vaccine, apart from deworming services. It is important for the owners to vaccinate their pet dogs and get a licence from the Corporation,” the Commissioner said.

We appeal to the stakeholders, especially pet owners and activists, and all concerned, including civic agencies, to go beyond the stated legal positions and appreciate the problem caused by unrestrained animals

— J Radhakrishnan, GCC Commissioner