Pet owners who do not register their dogs will face strict penalties, including the disconnection of water and drainage services to their homes or offices. Additionally, any unregistered pet dogs will be seized and placed in animal shelters, and their owners may be subject to further disciplinary action.
Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, who chaired a high-level meeting following the incident, has directed officials to draft a strict policy targeting unregistered pet dog owners.
He has also issued instructions to seize dogs belonging to individuals who fail to comply with mandatory registration norms. According to the AMC, over 5,000 pet owners in Ahmedabad have formally registered their dogs.
“The goal is to enforce accountability among pet owners and avoid incidents like the one in Hathijan,” the Commissioner said, adding that the municipality will take a zero-tolerance approach toward non-compliance.
The AMC is expected to roll out detailed guidelines and enforcement mechanisms in the coming weeks. Gujarat has witnessed a significant rise in pet ownership, particularly in urban centres like Ahmedabad.