The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has launched a stringent enforcement drive targeting pet owners, particularly those who walk their dogs daily, resulting in significant penalties for non-compliance. Over a span of just two weeks, the civic body has collected a substantial ₹3.78 lakh in fines from residents found violating pet ownership rules.
Daily Drives and Door-to-Door Checks Enforce Rules
In a bid to promote public safety and responsible pet ownership, the corporation has initiated daily surveillance across neighborhoods, parks, and beaches. This effort is complemented by door-to-door inspections. The crackdown, which began on December 15, specifically targets three key areas: failure to license a pet, absence of mandatory microchipping, and not keeping dogs on a leash in public spaces.
To execute this drive effectively, the GCC deployed 45 enforcement vehicles, each staffed with a four-member team that includes a veterinarian equipped with a microchip scanner. Resources were allocated with two vehicles assigned to each of the city's zones.
Hefty Fines for Leash, License, and Microchip Lapses
The data from the enforcement drive reveals widespread non-compliance. According to GCC veterinary officer J Kamal Hussain, officials found 337 dogs being walked without a leash, leading to penalties totalling ₹1.68 lakh. In a more serious violation, 42 pet dogs were discovered without the mandatory license or microchip, attracting fines summing up to ₹2.10 lakh. Pet owners who fail to microchip their dogs or obtain licenses face a steep penalty of ₹5,000.
Despite the GCC offering free anti-rabies vaccination (ARV), microchipping, and licenses at pet clinics and special camps, the uptake has been surprisingly low. The city has 1.08 lakh registered pet dogs, but only 73,845 pet dog licenses have been issued so far.
Visible Compliance and Future Plans
Officials report that the rigorous checks are already yielding positive results. "We are seeing visible changes, with more people following the regulations," stated Veterinary Officer Hussain. He confirmed that inspections in public spaces like beaches and parks are being carried out every day to maintain momentum.
In a related development, though the civic body imposed a ban on breeds like Rottweilers and Pitbulls from December 20, no penalties have been collected under this new rule yet. Officials noted they have not encountered any banned dogs being taken out without a leash and muzzle. Looking ahead, the Greater Chennai Corporation plans to conduct a comprehensive citywide pet dog census in the near future to gather more accurate data and streamline its pet management policies.
