Dog owners in Ahmedabad are being urged to register their pets as the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) introduces a new online system starting January 1, 2025. The civic body has made it mandatory for all pet dog owners to complete the registration process by March, with the aim of improving the management of pet ownership and vaccination records for the city’s estimated 50,000 pet dogs.
Each registration will cost Rs 200 and will require owners to provide vaccination records, a photo of their dog, and personal identification details such as an Aadhaar card or voter ID, along with their tax and electricity bills. AMC officials believe the initiative will help address issues related to rabies by ensuring accurate records of pet dogs and their vaccination status.
“The Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act mandates the registration of all pet animals,” said an AMC official on the condition of anonymity. “The online registration system has been developed after studying various aspects related to pet ownership.”
AMC is also planning to launch a dedicated app to facilitate the registration process, allowing owners to pay fees and download certificates with ease.
As part of a larger plan to enhance pet monitoring, AMC will require all registered dogs to be implanted with RFID microchips starting October 2025. The chips will include vital information such as the dog’s vaccination status and act as a unique identifier. An annual budget of Rs 1.8 crore has been allocated for purchasing the chips and tags.
“This is part of the central government’s goal to make Ahmedabad rabies-free by 2030,” an AMC official explained. “The Rabies-Free City Action Plan includes policies that will define pet owners’ responsibilities, such as annual online registration and submission of vaccination certificates.”
The AMC’s new policy, under development, will also outline designated feeding spots for dogs and areas where pets are not allowed. These rules are being crafted in accordance with the 2009 Supreme Court verdict, various High Court rulings and related laws.
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