Rajkot Municipal Corporation is preparing to introduce stricter rules for pet dog ownership amid a rise in incidents involving pet dog attacks in Gujarat. Under the proposed regulations, pet owners will be required to register their dogs with the municipal corporation and obtain written No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from neighbouring residents.
According to the proposed guidelines, anyone wishing to keep a pet dog will have to complete registration with the municipal corporation before owning the animal. In addition, nearby neighbours will be required to provide written NOCs stating that the pet has not caused any inconvenience and that its behaviour is normal.
The municipal corporation believes the proposed system will help reduce disputes and incidents involving pet dogs while increasing accountability among pet owners.
The move follows recent incidents of pet dog attacks reported in several cities across Gujarat. The issue gained prominence after the death of a child in Surat. Following the incident, municipal corporations in Ahmedabad, Morbi and other cities began reviewing their respective rules governing pet dogs.
As part of the review process, the Rajkot Municipal Corporation has sought information from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation regarding the rules and procedures currently in force there. After examining those regulations, the administration will issue final guidelines based on local requirements.
If pet owners do not voluntarily register their dogs, the municipal corporation will conduct a special door-to-door survey. Officials will visit households to prepare records of pet dogs, with detailed information on each dog and its owner entered into municipal records.
The administration said the exercise is intended not only to create an official database but also to help establish responsibility in the event of future incidents. The records will provide the municipal corporation with information on the actual number of pet dogs and their owners.
The municipal corporation has stated that action will be taken against anyone found keeping a pet dog without registration or violating the prescribed rules. The nature of the action will be specified after the final notification is issued.
The administration said the objective of the proposed regulations is to ensure public safety rather than inconvenience pet owners, with priority given to protecting children, elderly people and the general public from incidents involving pet dogs.
Experts also believe that measures such as registration, responsible pet ownership and periodic health checks could help reduce such incidents. If the proposed regulations are implemented effectively, other municipal corporations may also consider adopting similar arrangements in the future.
