COLOMBO – The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government has introduced a new Bill to eliminate rabies, regulate dog registration, and control the country’s dog population.
The proposed legislation has been published in the government gazette and includes provisions for the annual vaccination and registration of dogs, the sterilization of stray dogs and the licensing of commercial dog breeding centres.
Under the proposed law, every dog within the administrative limits of a local authority must be vaccinated against rabies annually and registered with the relevant local government authority.
Owners or persons keeping dogs over six weeks of age will be required to ensure that their dogs are vaccinated against rabies and registered each year.
Following vaccination and the issuance of a vaccination certificate, owners must register their dogs with the relevant local authority upon payment of the prescribed registration fee. A registration certificate will subsequently be issued.
The Bill proposes a fine of Rs 2,000, in addition to the applicable registration fee, for failing to register a dog as required.
The proposed legislation also places responsibilities on local government authorities to take measures to sterilize or castrate stray dogs within their respective administrative areas as part of efforts to control the stray dog population.
Meanwhile, individuals operating dog breeding centres will be required to obtain a licence under the proposed law.
The Bill further seeks to regulate the commercial sale of puppies, with the sale of puppies for commercial purposes prohibited unless the seller operates a licensed dog breeding centre.
–ENCL
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