Kohima Municipal Council to impound unleashed dogs from October 20

DIMAPUR — Dog owners in Kohima will have to keep their pets within their compounds or on a leash outside from October 20, when the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) begins operating its dog pound.

Under a notice issued by the KMC, any dog found on the streets of the municipality without a leash, and without its owner or caretaker, will be impounded without further notice and taken to the KMC dog shelter at its MRF Plant in Lerie.

Owners can reclaim impounded dogs by producing their identity documents. However, the council has fixed a maximum holding period of seven days, including the day of impoundment.

After the seven-day period, the notice stated, the dog may be given to a new owner, animal-care clubs or organisations, or otherwise dealt with “as deemed fit”. The owner will have no claim over the dog after the expiry of the holding period.

The KMC has also prescribed a graduated penalty for impounded dogs. The first impoundment will attract a INR 2,000 penalty, rising to INR 2,500 for the second and INR 3,000 for the third. From the fourth impoundment onwards, an additional INR 1,000 will be charged over and above the third-impoundment penalty.

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Owners will also have to pay INR 200 a day as feeding charges, besides INR 100 for cleaning and grooming. Immunisation charges will apply where an owner cannot produce an immunisation certificate, while surgical procedures, medical examinations and treatment will be charged at actual cost.

The council has advised owners to keep their dogs confined within their premises at all times and to use a leash whenever taking them outside.

The notice also placed responsibility on owners in the event of a dog-bite incident. Where a dog is found to have been unleashed outside its owner's compound, the owner will be held responsible for compensation, it stated.