Pet walkers now face KMC fine

BY Sushma Maharjan,Kathmandu, Jan. 13: Pet walkers in the city have now become aware while taking their pets for walks after the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) prohibited pets in public places. 

Some dog owners walking across the streets in Dallu of KMC Ward No. 15 on Friday morning were seen carrying plastic bags in their hands. 

Bikash Shrestha, a local walking his two dogs, expressed frustration over his pets being bound to the house. He said, “One of my dogs is five years old and the other three. I have been taking them for walks since their childhood to release themselves. But, suddenly there is a new rule in the city and it’s difficult to tame dogs accordingly. However, I appreciate the steps taken by the local governments and urge them to provide space for the disposal of animal faeces because it is difficult to carry it back home.”

Shanti Ghale, who runs a vegetable stall in the locality, expressed happiness over pet owners cleaning up after their animals. She shared the daily struggle of cleaning the street space for her vegetable display, which sometimes included animal and human waste. She said, “I am very happy that now pet owners need to clean the faeces of their animals. Dusting the area is manageable but dealing with faeces is unpleasant, especially with no nearby water source. 

Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has launched a drive to ensure the safety of pedestrians from pet animal attacks and to hold pet owners accountable for their pets from Tuesday. Following it, the metropolis has started taking action against those allowing their house dogs and cats to litter in public places within the Kathmandu metropolitan area. 

Dr. Awadesh Jha, head of the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Department, said that since the launch of the campaign four-five dogs littering in public places were caught and taken to the KMC office in Kathmandu Plazza. Later, they were handed to their owners with consultation not to repeat such activities again. So far, no denizens have been imposed a fine as the campaign was launched to make the public responsible for their house animal activities instead of charging fines, he added.

He said that in accordance with the Kathmandu Metropolitan Dog/Cat Sterilisation, Vaccination and Documentation Working Procedure, 2023, the metropolis has urged pet owners to be responsible for their pets prohibiting house pets from defecating in public spaces and someone else’s yards. Stating that exposure to animal faeces could affect human health, he said that the campaign was launched to make the city clean and healthy.

Dr. Jha said, “Prohibiting pet animals from littering in public does not mean that they are not allowed to take walks in public. Pets are permitted to take walks, but pet owners must control their pets and manage their excretion.” 

He added that the metropolis was also working to install bins in public areas for the disposal of animal faces.

According to Section 5 of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Dog/Cat Sterilization, Vaccination and Documentation Working Procedure, 2023, pet owners can be fined up to Rs. 5,000 if their dogs/cats are found loose and excreting in a public place, other’s yards or prohibited areas. 

According to the KMC, it has mobilised city police to make the campaign successful. Upon receiving complaints, they will gather evidence through CCTV footage and by asking people. Based on the evidence, appropriate actions will be taken. 

Dr. Jha informed that the KMC would start microchipping animals for records starting from mid-January. He informed that pet owners could easily get their pets microchipped by a veterinarian certified by the KMC, facilitating easy access to animal records at the ward and municipal levels.

Meanwhile, the KMC had also launched a sterilisation campaign to control the population of community dogs and cats aiming to permanently sterilise 5,800 street animals including dogs, cats and cattle and vaccinate 16,000 against rabies by mid-April 2024.

According to the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Department, the metropolis had already permanently sterilised more than 4,300 street animals in the past two months. 

Dr. Jha informed that they paused the campaign for a month due to cold weather and were now targeting to achieve their goal within a month after resuming it because nine different organisations were active in the campaign throughout 32 wards of the metropolis.