Mangaluru : The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has issued a set of guidelines for pet dog owners within its jurisdiction, making compliance with vaccination, animal welfare, hygiene and registration requirements mandatory and warning of penalties for violations.
The guidelines have been issued in accordance with the Supreme Court orders, Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, Animal Welfare Board of India guidelines, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017, and the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act. Failure to do so will attract an on-the-spot fine ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 under the corporation’s solid waste management bylaws. The corporation warned that violations of the prescribed rules, including abandoning animals in public places, could attract fines of up to Rs 50,000 under applicable laws. Members of the public who witness pet dogs or puppies being abandoned in public places can report the matter to the MCC helpline at 9449007722, along with photographic or video evidence. The state public grievance helpline, 1902, may also be used to register complaints, stated MCC commissioner Rahul Ratnam.
Stay updated with the latest Mangaluru news. All pet dogs must be vaccinated against rabies and given other vaccines prescribed by veterinarians. Annual booster doses must also be administered. Owners must produce valid vaccination certificates during inspections by MCC officials. Owners are responsible for providing their dogs with nutritious food, clean drinking water, safe shelter and appropriate veterinary care. Pet dogs must not be allowed to roam freely in public places and must be kept on a leash when taken outdoors. If a pet dog defecates in a public place, its owner must clean up immediately. All pet dogs, male and female, must undergo sterilisation by an authorised veterinarian unless they are being used for breeding by a legally registered breeder. Individuals and organisations engaged in dog breeding or puppy sales must obtain a registration certificate from the Karnataka State Animal Welfare Board under the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules. The MCC will not issue a trade licence without the required registration. Unsold puppies must be rehabilitated through recognised animal welfare organisations, MCC stated. Further, the MCC has made it clear that abandoning pet dogs or puppies on roads, vacant sites, garbage heaps or other public places is an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. If such neglect results in the death or disability of an animal, provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita may also attract imprisonment of up to five years, a fine or both, the MCC stated. Strict legal action will also be taken if negligent handling of a dog endangers human life. The cost of feeding and caring for abandoned animals will be recovered from their owners as per law. An FIR will also be registered at the jurisdictional police station based on appropriate evidence. Download the TOI App.