PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) officials said that it will strictly enforce the pet and stray dogs rules from March 14 making it mandatory for residents within municipal limits to obtain a licence for their pet dogs.
Senior municipal veterinary officer Dr Varun Agarwal said that the municipal corporation finalised objections and suggestions regarding the by-law on January 16. The document was later sent to Roorkee for gazette publication on January 22 and the gazette notification was received by the civic body on March 13.
Through the notification, the municipal corporation has informed residents that all citizens keeping pet dogs within municipal limits must obtain a licence and comply with the provisions of the by-law within the prescribed time frame.
Agrwal said that failure to register domestic or non-breeding dogs after publication of the by-law will attract a Rs 5,000 penalty per dog. Owners of aggressive breeds such as Pitbull, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino and American Bulldog must ensure immediate registration and sterilisation, failing which a Rs 20,000 penalty per dog will be imposed.
The by-law also includes rules for related establishments. Boarding kennels or private dog shelters must register within one month of the by-law’s publication or face a Rs 500 monthly penalty. Pet shops failing to obtain a licence within one month will be fined Rs 300 per month, while breeding farms delaying registration beyond one month will face a Rs 200 monthly penalty.
Additionally, breeding facilities must obtain a registration certificate from the Uttarakhand Animal Welfare Board within six months after registering with the municipal corporation. Failure to do so will result in a Rs 500 monthly penalty, he added.
Agarwal urged all dog owners to complete the licensing process within the stipulated time. He warned that non-compliance may lead to challans and legal action under the provisions of the by-law and appealed to citizens to cooperate in ensuring proper regulation and management of pet dogs in the city.
