Taking cognizance of a complaint from the Lotha Youth Hoho regarding concerns of free ranging dogs/ stray dogs in the town, market and colonies, the Wokha Town Council has issued an order directing dog owners to vaccinate their pets and keep them leashed/chained within their compounds.

Taking note that dogs within the town are not vaccinated and roaming freely in the town posing threat to elderly citizens and school going children as the fatality of rabies by dog bites is 100%, the WTC has said that any dog owner who negligently fails to take “such measures with their dogs in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life, or any probable danger of grievous hurt from such animals shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both under Section 291 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).”

Additionally, the Town Council observed that due to improper dumping of garbage waste within the town specially the market area, the free ranging and stray dogs are littering/dirtying

the town areas because of the exposed waste garbage. Therefore, the WTC has directed all the shopkeepers/vegetables vendors/traders and citizens under its jurisdiction not to dispose their waste garbage haphazardly or exposed in open spaces but to keep the waste neatly packed and handover the waste to the sanitation vehicle as and when they arrive to collect in the respective wards. Failing to comply this order will lead to penalty of ₹ 5000 against the defaulters, it added.