New Delhi: In order to regulate pet dog ownership, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is planning to introduce new set of rules. The development comes after the death of a four-month-old infant in Ahmedabad due to the fatal mauling by a pet Rottweiler. According to a report by the Hindustan Times, the AMC is now deliberating to bring about new rules regarding ownership of pet dog.
On May 12, a pet Rottweiler named Rocky mauled a four-month-old girl named Rushika to death. The incident took place in Ahmedabad’s Hathijan area. The dog broke free from its leash and lunged at the infant. It bit her multiple times on the head while she was being carried by her 17-year-old aunt. Rushika’s mother, Puja, later filed a police complaint. The infant was taken to hospital but died during treatment.
Not just aggressive breeds, but the rules planned to be introduced will pertain to all kinds of pet dogs. It would be developed on the lines of the law which has been introduced to tackle the menace of stray cattle in urban areas. Also, the rules aim to give the corporation a stronger legal framework to enforce regulations related to pets.
As per reports, the proposed rules will make pet dogs’ registration compulsory and will also talk about the responsibilities of pet owners. Reportedly, there are no specific rules at present to fix the responsibility of those who own pet dogs. In the new rules, there will be regulations about control over pets in public areas, the obligations to keep them clean, and consequences if the pet attacks or bites anyone. Also, the rules will include provisions for licensing pet ownership and need of leashing and muzzling in public areas.
Rules for responsibility of pet owners
The rules will outline the responsibility of pet dog owners and there can be a limitation on how many dogs a household can own. The rules have to first approved by the standing committee of the AMC and after that, they will be sent to the state government for implementation and final clearance. The pet dog ownership rules can be extended to other urban areas, including seven other municipal corporations of the state.
Earlier this year, the AMC began to register pet dogs in line with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. It is a central framework which aims to sterilize, vaccinate, and manage populations of dogs in a humane and regulated manner. Reportedly, Ahmedabad has around 52,000 pet dogs and 5520 has been registered so far. The deadline has been extended from March to May 31. To ensure that the legislation balances public safety with responsible pet ownership, the state government has consulted animal welfare organisations and veterinary experts.
PETA India has reacted to the development and said it has written to the office of Bhupendra Patel, the Gujarat Chief Minister, renewing its call in which it has urged the state to implement a policy prohibiting breeding, selling, or keeping dog breeds like Rottweilers, pit bull terriers, Presa Canarios, Dogo Argentinos (Argentine mastiffs), bull terriers, XL bullies, and Fila Brasileiros (Brazilian mastiffs) who have been deliberately bred for fighting and aggression.
