More Doon residents register pet dogs voluntarily, MCD to act against defaulters after Jan 14

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun

A growing number of pet owners in Dehradun are voluntarily registering their dogs following sustained awareness drives by the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) ahead of the strict enforcement of revised bylaws that made dog license mandatory.

Senior veterinary officer at MCD, Dr Varun Agrawal said that the response from residents has improved significantly due to consistent outreach. He said that resident welfare associations have been sensitised, schools were informed and the issue was also highlighted through newspapers and other media platforms. Weekly dog registration camps are being organised across the city with support from non-governmental organisations, while door-to-door verification and inspections are also underway.

“Because of these efforts, a large number of citizens have come forward on their own to register their dogs,” Aggarwal said. However, he said that action after January 14 against pet owners who fail to comply with the rules. According to the corporation, complaints related to unregistered dogs can lead to penalties and, in some cases, seizure of animals as permitted under the bylaws.

The MCD has also tightened monitoring of certain aggressive dog breeds, including Pitbull, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino and American Bulldog. Action related to such breeds is being carried out strictly in accordance with the rules, officials said.

Agrawal added that repeated complaints of dogs barking at night could also invite action against owners if no steps are taken to control the animals. While the revised bylaws will formally come into force after January 14, challans are already being issued under existing regulations.

Officials said that enforcement will be intensified in the coming days to ensure full compliance with mandatory dog registration norms across Dehradun.