Shillong: Shillong, a prominent hill station, is witnessing a significant shift in its pet ownership landscape as municipal authorities roll out stringent new regulations for dog owners.
The Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) has now made it compulsory for all city residents to register their pet dogs and secure official identification tags, a move aimed at enhancing public safety and better managing the burgeoning pet population.
This directive comes with a registration fee of ₹250 per animal, signalling the board’s resolve to bring accountability to pet ownership.
The new measure, enacted under the provisions of Section 128 of the Municipal Act, directly addresses escalating public concerns regarding stray animals and the disturbances caused by uncontrolled pets. The Chief Executive Officer of the Shillong Municipal Board underscored the urgency of the situation, emphasising that pet owners bear the responsibility of ensuring their dogs do not wander freely on public roads, parks, or common areas.
This regulation is specifically designed to curb the menace of unmonitored animals that have increasingly become a source of nuisance in residential colonies and bustling commercial hubs across the city.
Under this intensified enforcement drive, any dog found within the municipal limits without the requisite registration tags will be immediately categorised as a stray, irrespective of its ownership status. Such classification will empower the authorities to impound the animal, potentially leading to legal proceedings against the owners under relevant municipal laws. Pet owners are strongly advised to complete the registration process without delay to circumvent any complications.
The newly implemented registration system is anticipated to foster greater responsibility among dog owners while simultaneously providing the municipal authorities with a robust framework to effectively monitor and manage the city’s canine inhabitants.
Read More: Assam Board Declares Revised HSLC Compartmental Re-evaluation Results