Around 30% of road accidents in the country are caused by dogs, according to Dr. Chamith Nanayakkara, the founder of the Association of Veterinarians for Humane Management of Animal Population.
Dr. Nanayakkara also revealed that approximately Rs. 1 billion is spent annually on rabies vaccinations for people who are bitten by dogs.
Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo, he said the growing population of stray dogs is having a significant impact on the country’s economy.
He attributed the increase in stray animals to irresponsible human behaviour and a lack of awareness about social responsibility.
According to Dr. Nanayakkara, the proposed new legislation on animal population management could provide a long-term solution to the issue. Under the proposed law, all dogs with owners would be required to be registered with the relevant local authority.
The proposed legislation would also place responsibility for stray dogs that have neither owners nor caregivers with the respective local authorities.
Dr. Nanayakkara said the government would consequently be responsible for the vaccination and sterilisation of such animals, ensuring that dogs living on the streets would not be left without care.
He described the proposed system as a positive approach to addressing the country’s stray dog problem.
“On one hand, around Rs. 1 billion is spent every year on rabies vaccinations following dog bites. That is public money. On the other hand, around 30% of road accidents are caused by dogs. We need to consider how significantly this affects the country’s economy,” he said.
He questioned whether dogs living on the streets could be blamed for their situation.
“These animals are not on the streets by choice. They are there because of people’s irresponsible actions and a lack of understanding of social responsibility,” he said.
Dr. Chamith Nanayakkara added that improper waste management also contributes to the problem by providing stray animals with easy access to food, allowing their populations to increase.
Explaining the proposed legislation, Dr. Nanayakkara said dog owners would first be required to register their animals with the relevant local authority.
“For dogs living on the streets, where there is neither an owner nor anyone to care for them, the local authority must take responsibility. This is clearly addressed in the proposed legislation,” he said.
He added that the proposed system would ensure that no stray dog is left abandoned, while the government would take responsibility for vaccination and sterilisation programmes.
