TN PET DOG OWNERSHIP RULES & RESPONSIBILITIES

OWNERS

1. All proposed owners should obtain an eligibility certificate to have a pet

which will check for his / her financial stability, dog breed recommended

and space requirements by a Veterinary Counsil of India registered

Doctor/Clinic. The Clinic / Doctor will be responsible for any violation here.

2. Based on the eligibility certificate the owner adopts a dog and then applies

for a license with the Civic body which needs to be renewed every year

when the dogs get vaccinated in govt clinics or by showing proof of the dog’s

vaccination register done in private clinics.

3. Clearing of dog poop is owners’ responsibility and similarly street dog poop

needs to be cleaned by civic body. Else, this will remain one sided.

V C I DOCTOR / CLINIC

1. Every dog needs to be micro chipped to identify the dog’s owner in case of

any abandonment, dog goes missing, theft etc. This can also help the clinic

while treatment and upkeep of records.

2. Rearing the wrong kind of dog is also a reason why they are abandoned.

This can be fixed by filing an application to have a pet dog with the

Veterinary Counsil of India registered Doctors / Clinics and in turn checking

the to be owner’s premises, checking their financial stability and suggesting

the dog breed granting eligibility certificate.

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 3. While I was writing this proposal, a neighbor had brought a very small puppy

separated from his / her mother and had dumped him / her in the balcony.

The puppy was crying all night in the cold. This is because of the fact that

the owner lacks awareness and dos / don’ts in pet rearing or care. Anyone

who needs to adopt a pet needs a compulsory coaching certificate on the

dos and don’ts from a Veterinary Counsil of India a registered Doctor/Clinic.

The Clinic / Doctor will be responsible for any violation here.

4. No Puppy should be separated from its mother till 60 days from birth. This

will also ensure that they are vaccinated with 1st dose on the 45th day and

2nd dose on the 60th day.

5. The Veterinary Council of India registered Clinics / Doctors who approve the

adoption will be responsible for the care and wellbeing of that Dog. If there

is any violation from the dog owners’ side, the Doctor / Clinic should take

the responsibility to inform the Civic body / Police for necessary action.

CIVIC BODY

1. Dogs needs to be classified as Toy / Small breeds (Indian street, dog,

Labrador and Pomeranian) for apartments and small houses. Large breeds

like Doberman, Rottweiler, German shepherd and Indian Hounds like

Chippi, Kanni, Mudhol, Rampur, Rajapalayam and Kombai should be

allowed only in farms and warehouses. These are mostly single master

dogs and needs to waste their energy to be normal. Keeping them confined

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 all day in small space or caged or chained will make them aggressive and

that is one more reason for people to abandon.

2. Strict fines / imprisonment for abandoning dogs on the roads or elsewhere.

Abandoning due to unavoidable reasons (owner no more or terminally ill

etc..) needs to be sanctioned by the Veterinary Doctors / Clinics and dogs

should be safely handed over to a shelter approved by the State Animal

Welfare Board with a compensation to look after for the rest of its life. The

cost to be borne by the civic body in case of owner no more.

3. Civic body to determine the number of dogs one can have based on the

space they have and there is no nuisance to neighbors.

PCB

1. Owners should walk dogs only leashed in public spaces. Any littering inside

societies needs to be cleaned by the owner.

2. In case of many dogs, then a certificate from the pollution control board is

a must to ensure the premise is hygienic, doesn’t emit any foul smell and

litter is disposed as per PCB norms.

3. Clearing of dog poop is owners’ responsibility and similarly street dog poop

needs to be cleaned by civic body. Else it will remain one sided.

4. The above rules should apply to Pet clinics too with an additional emphasis

on how they maintain cleanliness and free of litter in and around their

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 clinics. Also, PCB to provide license to their waste disposal only if they

follow the norms.

POLICE

1. Being chained, caged or confined in small space all day or caged should

be banned for all type of dogs.

2. Leaving the dogs chained, caged & confined all day in the Balcony, Terrace

or Out in the open during sunny, rainy and cold days to be banned.

3. In case of an aggressive dog attack, the victim should be compensated for

medical expenses and trauma. The owner should be imposed with a hefty

fine. Repeat offenders should be punished with an imprisonment.

4. The Police department should record any cruelty or violation of above rules

within 8 hours of complaint and the matter closed not later than 5 days from

the date of CSR or FIR.

5. Police should take complaints from any person without prejudice on cruelty

/ violation of rules.

6. All housing complexes and those who rent houses should not deny houses

for those who have pets.

All Dog breeders to be brought into the category of Pet owners and all the above

rules should apply to them too. In addition, they should be awarded a breeding

license only if she or he follows all the above mandatory requirements.

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