Mangaluru makes vaccination and sterilisation mandatory for pet dogs; abandoning pets may cost up to Rs 50,000
The city corporation says dogs must be leashed in public, owners must clean up after them, and breeders need state registration to get a trade licence.
The Mangaluru City Corporation has directed all pet dog owners in the city to follow rules on vaccination, care, cleanliness and sterilisation, citing Supreme Court orders, the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and other animal welfare laws.
Commissioner Rahul Ratnam Pandey said all pet dogs must be vaccinated against rabies with annual boosters, and owners must show certificates during inspections. Dogs must be kept on a leash outdoors and must not roam freely; owners who do not clean up after their pets in public face on-the-spot fines of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000.
Dogs not used for registered breeding must be sterilised by an authorised veterinarian. Breeders and puppy sellers need registration from the Karnataka State Animal Welfare Board, without which the corporation will not issue a trade licence.
Abandoning pets in public places is an offence and may attract fines of up to Rs 50,000, along with recovery of care costs and a police case. Residents can report abandonment to the corporation's helpline, 9449007722, with photos or video.
Source: Deccan Herald. Photo: Aviator423 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
