About 59 dogs have been killed in Luanshya in an exercise to get rid of unlicensed and stray pets in the mining town.

The development, sparked consternation among residents in Mikomfwa, who started throwing stones, forcing the enforcement team to stop the exercise.

In the same vein, the Luanshya Municipal Council has issued more than 600 dog licences

During the exercise, residents in Mikonfwa started throwing stones and other missiles in an attempt to block public health inspectors, who were conducting their duties.

According to the local authority, the control of dogs act Chapter 247 of laws of Zambia gives powers to the council to destroy unvaccinated and unconfirmed dogs through shooting by snipers from state police.

Council Public Relations Manager, Gideon Thole, said that a combined team of council public health inspectors and officers from the veterinary department registered 646 dogs.

Owners of the pets were issued with licences during the ongoing mobile dog registration programme, taking place across district.

He said the 59 dogs were eliminated through shooting and were disposed of in accordance with the law.

Mr Thole said that the council would not tolerate the provocative behavior by the residents.

He said that the hostile and life threatening acts by residents, forced a team of public health inspectors and veterinary officers to withdraw from their duty.