BY ANDREW IKEHI
The Delta State Pets Control and Responsible Ownership Bill, 2024 was yesterday read the third time on the floor of the State House of Assembly as it was subsequently passed.
The third reading of the bill and its subsequent passage, The Pointer reports, 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, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi 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 and pass
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 of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, noted that the bill when finally signed into law, would enable the State government in ensuring effective control of stray dogs and prevent the spread of the deadly rabies disease which is almost always fatal.
It would be recalled that the bill, among other things, states that any pet owner who contravenes 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.
