The Delta State House of Assembly has passed the ‘Pets Control and Responsible Ownership Bill 2024’. The bill was read for the third time on the Assembly floor and was subsequently passed.
The passage was preceded by a report presented at Thursday’s plenary by the ‘House Joint Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Health, and Environment, Oil and Gas’.
Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Perkins Umukoro presented the committee’s report during Thursday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor.
Following the committee’s report, Rt. Hon. Guwor called for the suspension of relevant orders of the House, particularly Order 12, Rules 82 and 83 to enable them take the third reading.
Motion for the passage of the bill which primarily seeks to address the licencing, control and registration of pets in the state, was moved by the majority leader of the House, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi. The motion which was seconded by the member representing Ndokwa West State Constituency, Hon. Charles Emetulu, was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers following a voice vote called by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor.
Commending the lawmakers for their due diligence in the passage of the bill, the Speaker noted that the bill when finally signed into law, would enable the state government to ensure effective control of stray dogs and prevent the spread of the deadly rabies disease.
The bill, among other things, stipulates that pet owners who contravene the provisions of the law shall be liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding N50,000 or a jail term not less than one month.