To mitigate dog menace and draw solutions concerning stray animals in the region, Rigzin Samphel, Commissioner/Secretary Animal & Sheep Husbandry UT Ladakh chaired a meeting on March 24.

Samphel gave directions to the Animal & Sheep Husbandry Department, acting as the Nodal agency, for providing food to the stray animals by way of facilitating the procurement of food items from the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) department. 

Municipal Committee (MC) Leh in collaboration with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to the Animals (SPCA) Leh will facilitate the distribution of food to the stray dogs and animals at different points. This decision was drawn as a short-term plan keeping the non-availability of foods due to closure of hotels and restaurants in the global pandemic of COVID-19 situation.

As per the long-term plan, a shelter with a capacity for 5000 dogs will be constructed at the allotted land at bombgarh. Rigzin Smphel further gave directions to begin the work of construction in April. 

Director Animal & Sheep Husbandry Department, Director Agriculture Department, Chief Agriculture Officer Leh, Chief Horticulture Officer Leh, SE PWD, Wildlife Warden, General Secretary and members of SPCA Leh were also present.