After a tragic dog attack in Hathijan, Ahmedabad, where a young girl lost her life, the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is set to introduce stricter rules for pet dog ownership in the city.
Right now, dog owners pay ₹200 to register each dog. But this fee is likely to increase under the new policy. Also, owners will have to get their dogs checked by a vet every three months and make sure they are fully vaccinated.
The new policy will also set guidelines for the minimum space that must be allotted to pet dogs, a move aimed at improving the quality of life for the animals and ensuring public safety. Detailed norms regarding the required space and living conditions will be issued by the AMC.
The push for a policy overhaul comes after a Rottweiler in Hathijan fatally attacked a 4-month-old infant. The dog, which has since been captured, was found to become aggressive upon seeing a stick, according to behaviour and medical assessments conducted by AMC officials.
Naresh Rajput, head of AMC’s Cattle Nuisance Control Department, said the dog’s owner didn’t know enough about dog behaviour and hadn’t given the dog proper medical care.