The AMC is mulling a three-stage verification process for those who own pet dogs as part of its plan to control the spread of rabies through dog bites. The civic body made registration of pet dogs mandatory in March 2024. The process for the same has been simplified and the forms are already out.
Registration licence won’t be granted for 25 dog breeds identified as ferocious and dangerous for human life as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department. The civic body will also not allow such breeds to be sold, bred or kept.
However, taking a softer approach towards owners who already have these breeds, AMC will insist on the dogs being neutered so that they cannot breed further.
The first step will be to get the dogs registered for a nominal fee of Rs 200. The registration will require a picture of the dog and the owner as well as a vaccination certificate from a registered vet.
The second step will involve an AMC appointed veterinary doctor taking a look at the picture to decide if the breed is among the 25 banned ones or not. “The vet may even visit the dog owner to check the breed if it’s not possible to do so from the photograph. An additional verification fee will be imposed for such visits.
The third stage involves the AMC seeking periodic vaccination certificates and checking if the pet is a nuisance or is soiling public places.
If all these stages are completed to the satisfaction of the authorities the civic body will provide a licence to the pet owner. AMC also proposes to issue Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips to tag the pets at a later stage.
25 banned dog breeds
Pitbull Terrier, Tosa Inu, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog, Boerboel Kangal, Central Asian Shepherd Dog (Ovcharka), Caucasian Shepherd, South Russian Shepherd Dog, Tornjak, Sarplaninac, Japanese Tosa and Akita, Mastiffs (Boerbulls), Rottweiler, Terriers, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Wolf Dogs, Canario, Akbash Dog, Moscow Guard Dog, Cane Corso and every dog of the type commonly known as a Ban Dog or a Bandog.