J&K warns against electric ‘dog sticks’, may bring under arms rules

The Jammu and Kashmir government has warned against the use of shock-delivering 'dog sticks' on street dogs, saying the devices may fall under the J&K Arms Rules, 2016. The housing and urban development department issued the advisory on Saturday after online ads by a Pulwama firm, M/s Gambs Enterprises, promoted such electric shock guns and prods as protection against stray animals.

The department said using these devices inflicts unnecessary pain on animals and violates the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. It is examining the legal classification of such devices, the authority under which they are sold, and their intended use. The advisory bars all dog catchers, agencies, contractors, municipal bodies and the public from procuring or using electric shock devices for catching or handling street dogs.

Under the Arms Rules, 2016, electronic disabling devices require a licence for sale, transfer or possession, and must be sold only through authorised arms dealers. J&K recorded over 2 lakh dog-bite cases in the past two years, 1.2 lakh in Jammu and around 80,000 in the Valley. A 2023 survey estimated 64,416 stray dogs in Srinagar alone.