Haven’t registered your pet dog yet? Your canine could be ‘detained’ by the MCD

Most people are not aware that registration is a must. According to the three civic bodies, in the last one year, owners of only 953 pet dogs came forward to register -- 365 pets in North, 255 in East and 333 in the South Delhi municipal corporations.

Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Neeti Bagh, has had dogs of different pedigrees for the last 44 years. But he still doesn’t know that registration of pet canine with the municipal authority is a ‘must’ in Delhi.

According to the three civic bodies, in the last one year, owners of only 953 pet dogs came forward to register -- 365 pets in North, 255 in East and 333 in the South Delhi municipal corporations. (Getty Images)

Like Kumar, there are many others who are not aware about this rule.

According to the three civic bodies, in the last one year, owners of only 953 pet dogs came forward to register -- 365 pets in North, 255 in East and 333 in the South Delhi municipal corporations.

The corporations say a token for every pet dog would help check practices such as open defecation and raise revenue to fund vet facilities for the pets. But it has failed to enforce or create awareness about the laws.

Section 399 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act 1957 clearly says registration is a must for all domesticated dogs. The section also gives power to the MCD to “detain a dog found in a public place and not been registered or which is not wearing token issued by authority after registration”.

The non-compliance of the Act may invite punitive action, including challan and prosecution of the owner, said a senior official from North MCD.

“I take my two pet dogs for vaccination but I have never been told by any veterinary doctor (even in MCD hospitals) that their registration is mandatory,” said Aarti Gupta, a resident of Green Park.

Many people don’t know that pet dogs have to be vaccinated and registration needs to be renewed every year.

“Vaccinations available in markets that are effective for two to three years. But the rabies virus is in endemic form in Indian environment, says the World Health Organisation, which makes it a must for pets to be vaccinated every year,” said a senior veterinary official from North MCD.

According to Rita Singh, founder of Krishan Ashram, a shelter for 1,000 stray dogs in south Delhi, regular awareness drives, accessibility of veterinary staff and simplifying the registration procedure will help increase registration numbers.

Benefits of dog registration

1. In case of dog bite, owner can avoid punishment by showing certificate. It dog is vaccinated, victim need not get anti rabies injection.

2. If dog is lost, it can be traced with help of pet’s photo and ‘dog collar’.

3. Ownership can be proved with registration certificate.

“These efforts are lacking. The procedure can also help identify people who leave pet dogs on road after they turn old or catch disease,” she said.

As of now, the North and East Corporations do register pets manually. “All it needs is a vaccination slip from hospital (certifying the pet is vaccinated), a photo and R 50 as fees to register a dog at zonal offices,” said the official.

In return, the department provides a certificate and ‘dog collar’ made of brass with the registration number on it.

The south corporation made the facility online and charges R 500 for registration. “There is no manual registration now. The development resulted more doge being registered, from 200 in 2015-16 to 333 in 2016-17,” said a senior veterinary official from South MCD.

.