No licence? You may lose your dog
BMC has asked citizens to get licences by March 31, will pay door-to-door visits to check violations and levy fines of Rs1,000 if found any
The next time you walk your dog down the Marine Drive promenade, make sure you have a licence from the civic health department. If you don't, not only can civic health officials fine you Rs1,000 but they may also confiscate your pet dog.
If you thought you could keep your dogs at home, away from officials' eyes, think again. The civic staff plans to go from door to door to ensure that all pet dogs are licensed.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) public health department has asked citizens to obtain licences by March 31, 2011, by paying Rs100. If you have a pet dog without a licence after that date, not only will you be liable for a fine of Rs1,000 but also penal action.
According to the department, it is taking such measures to ensure that citizens take good care of their pet dogs which are responsible for 20% of the 45,000 cases of rabies reported across the city each year.
"The BMC has decided to take strict measures to ensure the implementation of licences for pet dogs. The motive behind these measures is to check the cases of rabies in the city. When a dog owner approaches the BMC for a licence, we will also vaccinate the animal if it already has not been," said Dr Gourish Ambe, executive health officer of the BMC.
"We will be able to bring the number down drastically if we manage to vaccinate all pet dogs," he added.
Explaining how the department plans to go about the mammoth task of finding unlicensed dogs, Dr Ambe said: "We usually ask the watchmen of housing societies about people who own dogs in the respective buildings. We then approach the relevant people to know if they have a licence for their pet dog or not. We will intensify the drive in the coming months."
He added that officials of the health department will also approach people walking dogs and ask for licences. If a dog owner does not have the licence on his person, officials will visit his or her residence to verify the permit.
"A dog census carried out jointly by the state animal husbandry department and the BMC has revealed that there are 26,900 pet dogs in the city, but only 6,000 to 8,000 are registered with the civic body," Dr Ambe said.
The owners were expected to get their dogs vaccinated, but the fact that rabies cases have been on the rise in the city shows that compliance has been poor.
Get a tag for your doggy in Bangalore at Rs100
Do you own a doggy? Then rush to BBMP to get a licence for your pet at Rs100. It’s a must now.
A decision making it compulsory was taken on Thursday by the taxation and finance committee chairman PN Sadashiva. The rule will apply to all pet dogs in the city. The BBMP expects to collect over Rs1.5 crore through this, said Sadashiva. If the licence fee is hiked to Rs500 — which is also conceived — then the civic body will rake up a whopping Rs7 crore from this move.
The issue of compulsory licences for pet dogs was raised by the Nagapura councillor S Harish during the budget discussions. He urged the BBMP to collect licence fees from pet dog owners and make licences for pet dogs compulsory.
“The suggestion given by the corporator is very good and we have considered it in our budget,” Sadashiva said, indicating that it will now be made compulsory for all pet dog owners.
A census conducted by the BBMP from June 11, 2007, to July 6, 2007, said the population of stray dogs in the city was 1,83,758, of which 1,05,466 are males and 78,292 females. The stray population had dipped marginally in the following years, but is more or less the same now. The pet dog population is 1,43,522.
BBMP rules anyway mandate that licences for pet dogs be taken by the owners — a rule that was never enforced earlier. Each licence would cost Rs100 and the licence would be valid for one year, after which the dog owners have to renew the licence.
BBMP joint director (Animal Husbandry) Parviz Ahmed Piran said that last year itself they had sent a proposal for issuing of licence for pet dogs. “We should increase the fee from Rs100 to Rs500 per dog. New rules have to be framed for collecting the fee for the pet dogs,” he said. With this foreseen increase in revenue emerging from pet dog licences, the outlay of the budget has been hiked to Rs360 crore.
The estimated betterment charges has been increased from Rs120 crore to Rs200 crore, while property tax has been hiked to Rs1,650 crore from Rs1,500 crore. The revenue through trade licences will now be Rs177 crore, while it will be Rs800 crore through Akrama-Sakrama scheme.
A decision making it compulsory was taken on Thursday by the taxation and finance committee chairman PN Sadashiva. The rule will apply to all pet dogs in the city. The BBMP expects to collect over Rs1.5 crore through this, said Sadashiva. If the licence fee is hiked to Rs500 — which is also conceived — then the civic body will rake up a whopping Rs7 crore from this move.
The issue of compulsory licences for pet dogs was raised by the Nagapura councillor S Harish during the budget discussions. He urged the BBMP to collect licence fees from pet dog owners and make licences for pet dogs compulsory.
“The suggestion given by the corporator is very good and we have considered it in our budget,” Sadashiva said, indicating that it will now be made compulsory for all pet dog owners.
A census conducted by the BBMP from June 11, 2007, to July 6, 2007, said the population of stray dogs in the city was 1,83,758, of which 1,05,466 are males and 78,292 females. The stray population had dipped marginally in the following years, but is more or less the same now. The pet dog population is 1,43,522.
BBMP rules anyway mandate that licences for pet dogs be taken by the owners — a rule that was never enforced earlier. Each licence would cost Rs100 and the licence would be valid for one year, after which the dog owners have to renew the licence.
BBMP joint director (Animal Husbandry) Parviz Ahmed Piran said that last year itself they had sent a proposal for issuing of licence for pet dogs. “We should increase the fee from Rs100 to Rs500 per dog. New rules have to be framed for collecting the fee for the pet dogs,” he said. With this foreseen increase in revenue emerging from pet dog licences, the outlay of the budget has been hiked to Rs360 crore.
The estimated betterment charges has been increased from Rs120 crore to Rs200 crore, while property tax has been hiked to Rs1,650 crore from Rs1,500 crore. The revenue through trade licences will now be Rs177 crore, while it will be Rs800 crore through Akrama-Sakrama scheme.
In Mumbai, leading a dog’s life is not necessarily a bad thing
The customer sits in the bathtub, as an attendant briskly shampoos and then conditions his hair. Covered with suds, it's hard to fathom whether he's enjoying the wash, but his brown eyes reveal a stoic acceptance of his situation.
It's Scrappy the Cocker Spaniel's hour at the salon. He's just one of the 11 clients scheduled for the day at Urmila and Gauri's dog parlour, Tailwaggers.
Besides washes and cuts, the salon offers detangling treatment, manicures, ear cleaning, and other such treatments. Depending on the breed of the dog and the services chosen, the bill can be anywhere between Rs750 and Rs1,500.
Mumbai has woken up to what many entrepreneurs the world over have realised: When it comes to their pets, especially dogs, owners are willing to roll over and do what it takes to keep their pet healthy and happy.
In the United States for instance, clubs like the Top Dog Country Club, provide facilities like heated swimming pools. Owners can go ahead and make their holiday plans without the usual pangs of guilt. In the UK, kennels are familiar with requests that border on the bizarre. One lady insisted that her Poodle's kennel be furnished with a leather sofa and a television set.
And while the city is yet to have its own — exclusive —doggy country club, there is a battalion of service providers for pets that caters to the needs of the pets and their owners.
Going to the vet for inoculations is just the beginning. There are pet stores (that stock up on food and doggie treats), trainers, dog walkers, beauty parlours, dog food caterers, party planners and psychiatrists. While on vacation, owners can enroll their pets into kennels and day-care facilities, many of which offer pick-up and drop services. The cost can vary from Rs150 to even Rs1,500 per day, depending on the breed, dietary needs etc.
"People are now keeping exotic breeds, many of whom are not inured to the city's humid weather. Such breeds require specialised maintenance and care; which we provide," says Urmila. So, besides German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers, Mumbai is also home to Chihuahuas, Poodles, Rottweilers, Pugs, and the occasional St Bernard.
Tanya Singh's desire to find the perfect pair of shoes for her one-and-a half-year-old Shih Tzu can no longer be viewed as a doting owner's eccentricity.
"I couldn't get shoes small enough to fit Raffles in the city, but I managed to find a pair in Singapore," she says. Besides his own toys and clothes, Raffles visits the parlour every week for a bath, hair wash, and sundry pampering. For Tanya, shelling out Rs650 is a necessity.
"Shih Tzus have four coats of hair that need to be well-maintained and kept tangle-free, and are susceptible to skin problems. His weekly visit to the dog salon ensures that he remains healthy."
Many of the dogs belong to double income families, and while their owners may not always have the time to take care of them personally, they have the means to ensure that their dog gets the best of what's available.
For instance, it's no longer a rarity to see vets organise doggy birthday parties - Raffles will be throwing one when he turns two on February 19. His vet will ensure that the guests are breeds that the Shih Tzu will get along with; those 'on heat' will not be invited.
It's not only owners of high-maintenance breeds who pamper their dogs. This writer would love to trade lives with businesswoman, Seema Khinchi's Labradors - ET and Forest. They get freshly cooked 'premium' meals delivered to them every day by Wasiff Khan's doggie catering service, Homecare Dog Food.
"Each meal costs about Rs140, but it's money well spent," says Seema, who also has a cat called Mo. "They are my children, and while Mo doesn't care to be pampered as much, ET and Forest love the extra attention." Both of them were abandoned and ill-treated by their previous owners, and were adopted by Seema. Today, they have a "nanny" who takes care of their grooming and physical activities.
Seema even enlisted a dog trainer for her pets. "I wanted the best, so I hired a trainer who had trained the Mumbai police's dog squad." Both Forest and ET are on a break, but will resume their schooling in March. Seema spends about Rs6,000 on each of her pets.
Even the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has jumped on to the bandwagon by planning to increase the annual dog license fee from Rs200 to Rs2,500.
And while pet owners are unhappy about this, their pets carry on as usual.
It's Scrappy the Cocker Spaniel's hour at the salon. He's just one of the 11 clients scheduled for the day at Urmila and Gauri's dog parlour, Tailwaggers.
Besides washes and cuts, the salon offers detangling treatment, manicures, ear cleaning, and other such treatments. Depending on the breed of the dog and the services chosen, the bill can be anywhere between Rs750 and Rs1,500.
Mumbai has woken up to what many entrepreneurs the world over have realised: When it comes to their pets, especially dogs, owners are willing to roll over and do what it takes to keep their pet healthy and happy.
In the United States for instance, clubs like the Top Dog Country Club, provide facilities like heated swimming pools. Owners can go ahead and make their holiday plans without the usual pangs of guilt. In the UK, kennels are familiar with requests that border on the bizarre. One lady insisted that her Poodle's kennel be furnished with a leather sofa and a television set.
And while the city is yet to have its own — exclusive —doggy country club, there is a battalion of service providers for pets that caters to the needs of the pets and their owners.
Going to the vet for inoculations is just the beginning. There are pet stores (that stock up on food and doggie treats), trainers, dog walkers, beauty parlours, dog food caterers, party planners and psychiatrists. While on vacation, owners can enroll their pets into kennels and day-care facilities, many of which offer pick-up and drop services. The cost can vary from Rs150 to even Rs1,500 per day, depending on the breed, dietary needs etc.
"People are now keeping exotic breeds, many of whom are not inured to the city's humid weather. Such breeds require specialised maintenance and care; which we provide," says Urmila. So, besides German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers, Mumbai is also home to Chihuahuas, Poodles, Rottweilers, Pugs, and the occasional St Bernard.
Tanya Singh's desire to find the perfect pair of shoes for her one-and-a half-year-old Shih Tzu can no longer be viewed as a doting owner's eccentricity.
"I couldn't get shoes small enough to fit Raffles in the city, but I managed to find a pair in Singapore," she says. Besides his own toys and clothes, Raffles visits the parlour every week for a bath, hair wash, and sundry pampering. For Tanya, shelling out Rs650 is a necessity.
"Shih Tzus have four coats of hair that need to be well-maintained and kept tangle-free, and are susceptible to skin problems. His weekly visit to the dog salon ensures that he remains healthy."
Many of the dogs belong to double income families, and while their owners may not always have the time to take care of them personally, they have the means to ensure that their dog gets the best of what's available.
For instance, it's no longer a rarity to see vets organise doggy birthday parties - Raffles will be throwing one when he turns two on February 19. His vet will ensure that the guests are breeds that the Shih Tzu will get along with; those 'on heat' will not be invited.
It's not only owners of high-maintenance breeds who pamper their dogs. This writer would love to trade lives with businesswoman, Seema Khinchi's Labradors - ET and Forest. They get freshly cooked 'premium' meals delivered to them every day by Wasiff Khan's doggie catering service, Homecare Dog Food.
"Each meal costs about Rs140, but it's money well spent," says Seema, who also has a cat called Mo. "They are my children, and while Mo doesn't care to be pampered as much, ET and Forest love the extra attention." Both of them were abandoned and ill-treated by their previous owners, and were adopted by Seema. Today, they have a "nanny" who takes care of their grooming and physical activities.
Seema even enlisted a dog trainer for her pets. "I wanted the best, so I hired a trainer who had trained the Mumbai police's dog squad." Both Forest and ET are on a break, but will resume their schooling in March. Seema spends about Rs6,000 on each of her pets.
Even the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has jumped on to the bandwagon by planning to increase the annual dog license fee from Rs200 to Rs2,500.
And while pet owners are unhappy about this, their pets carry on as usual.
Welfare of stray dogs
This is with reference to the news item ‘NGO comes forward to attend to stray dogs’ (DNA.Sunday, August 17). NGOs such as Welfare of Strays Dogs (WSD) have confirmed that more and more dog lovers are going in for adoption of stray dogs.
One point in favour of this approach is that most of the dogs recognise the people who move around in a neighbourhood. Hence there is a bond between the human being and the dog. This is seen most clearly in the fact that even if we happen to feed the dogs for a day, they will start following us.
However, under the present circumstances, the BMC is unearthing ancient rules from its from its archives — namely, that pet dogs need to have license, and feeding stray dogs will invite fines up to Rs500. This outdated rule of the BMC is ridiculous. Animal welfare NGOs should campaign to get this penalty regulation revoked and the BMC would do well to initiate a drive to capture all stray dogs from the streets and relocate them to pounds.
This is with reference to the news item ‘NGO comes forward to attend to stray dogs’ (DNA.Sunday, August 17). NGOs such as Welfare of Strays Dogs (WSD) have confirmed that more and more dog lovers are going in for adoption of stray dogs.
One point in favour of this approach is that most of the dogs recognise the people who move around in a neighbourhood. Hence there is a bond between the human being and the dog. This is seen most clearly in the fact that even if we happen to feed the dogs for a day, they will start following us.
However, under the present circumstances, the BMC is unearthing ancient rules from its from its archives — namely, that pet dogs need to have license, and feeding stray dogs will invite fines up to Rs500. This outdated rule of the BMC is ridiculous. Animal welfare NGOs should campaign to get this penalty regulation revoked and the BMC would do well to initiate a drive to capture all stray dogs from the streets and relocate them to pounds.
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