New Chandigarh Bylaws: House Size Dictates the No. Of Dogs You Can Own

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh civic body has announced that the number of dogs you can own is now dictated by the size of your house. If the number of dogs in a house is over the allowed limit, the dogs shall be impounded, and the owners will be subject to a fine. 

Further, feeding areas for community dogs or strays is to be fixed. Any resident who “throws eatables in public place, other than those designated by the RWA enticing the community dogs to assemble at such place for taking eatables which result in causing danger to human life,” shall be subject to punishment under the law. 

These provisions have been approved in Chandigarh’s new pet and community dog bylaws. Fines for violating the laws start from INR 200 and go up to INR 10,000. The community dog bylaws were initially tabled a few months ago, but more points needed t b incorporated into the bylaws, leading to their presentation in the general house in March. 

According to the new limits, a house owner with less than or equal to five marla house can keep one pet dog (subject to maximum of three dogs per house in case of residing of more than one family in the same house but on different floors). A house owner with more than five marlas but less than or equal to 12 marlas will be allowed to keep two dogs to a maximum of three dogs per house in case of residing of more than one family but on different floors). 

Further, “in houses more than 12 marla and less than or equal to one kanal house, only three dogs can be kept out of which one must be an adopted mongrel/Indie dog, subject to a maximum of five dogs per house in case more than one family residing in the house but on different floors. If any family keeps more than two dogs the other must be adopted mongrel/Indie dog.”

In houses of more than one kanal in Chandigarh, four dogs are allowed, out of which two must be an indie dog, subject to a maximum of six dogs per house in case of more than one family residing in the same house but on different floors. If any family keeps more than two dogs, the others must be an indie dog.

The bylaws also stated that “it shall be the responsibility of resident welfare associations and market welfare associations to designate a place and time in their locality for feeding community dogs living in the vicinity in consultation with the area councilor and registration authority within a given time frame by the MC. The feeding spot must be a place unused by children/public/dog walkers to avoid any untoward incident between community dogs and pet dogs or the public”.

Also, the bylaws said “whoever throws eatables in public place, other than those designated by RWA/MWA or Municipal Corporation as the case may be, thereby enticing the community dogs to assemble at such place for taking eatables which result in causing danger to human life to be likely to cause injury or annoyance to public or to people in general or to cause hindrance in smooth running of vehicular traffic, shall be deemed guilty of offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly as per relevant provision of Indian Penal Code 1860 or any other law”.

The new bylaws that were approved stated that “the owner will have to get its dog registered with a fee of Rs 500 with two recent photographs of the dog(s) and a copy of vaccination certificate”. “However, a blind person keeping dog(s) and using solely for his/her guidance shall be exempted from the payment of the registration fee,” it mentions.

The bylaws also mention that registering a pet will earn the owner a metal registration token, which must be affixed to the collar worn by dogs. “In case of the loss or destruction of the token, a duplicate token shall be issued to the owner on submission of an application along with a fee of Rs 500 per token. The registration once made shall remain valid for the full life span of the dog(s). However, the registration needs to be renewed after every five years with the vaccination record of previous years along with a fee of Rs 50 per dog,” it was stated.

As per the new bylaws, “the owner of the dog(s) shall not take the dog(s) to the area of the Sukhna Lake, Rose Garden, Shanti Kunj, Rock Garden, Leisure Valley, Mini Rose Garden, Fragrance Garden, Terrace Garden, Shivalik Garden and other public places/gardens as notified.”