Despite bylaws, Patiala Municipal Corporation fails to keep record of animal registration

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 5

Despite bylaws on registration, proper control of stray animals and compensation to victims of animal attacks having been notified last year, the Municipal Corporation has failed to maintain a proper record of complaints received regarding registered pets and demand for compensation in case of animal attacks.

This was revealed in the Municipal Corporation’s response to an RTI applicant. The RTI activist also demanded information regarding certificates issued for registration of animals, fees and revenue collected as per the bylaws and complaints received from the city.

In response, the Municipal Corporation said the office did not have any data regarding the information sought.

Meanwhile, a resident of the city, Anu, said she had complained to the corporation over a dog that had bitten her husband. “I submitted a complaint to the Municipal Corporation on July 22 after my husband, Manoj Kumar, was bitten by a stray dog. We had to get costly treatment for it. I submitted an application along with the medical report and bills generated for medicines and treatment but the corporation has failed to compensate us since,” she said.

Meanwhile, an RTI activist Davinderpal Singh said, “People are unaware of the process for compensation.”

“They need to first report that matter to a hospital and submit a complaint with the Municipal Corporation along with medical report generated from the hospital,” Singh said.

As per a recent report of the Health Department, on average 900 dog bite cases are being reported from the district every month, he added.

When contacted, an employee of the MC on the condition of anonymity said, “We usually get complaints of dog bites in various areas. People complain that a specific dog that is biting people should be removed. In the case of dogs, we take the animal in possession and sterilise it. It is then left in the same area as per directions. We do not get complaints demanding compensation for dog bites. We will check if any complaint is received along with the medical report, and will take appropriate action on it.”