Chandigarh MC Proposes Tougher Pet Bylaws: Owners Could Lose Dogs for Mistreatment, Face Fines via Tax Bills

Chandigarh: Pet parents in Chandigarh, take note. The Municipal Corporation (MC) is planning major updates to its dog bylaws, aimed at curbing the mistreatment of pets and tightening accountability across the board. Among the most significant proposed changes: if your dog is found to be ill-treated, the MC could seize the animal and put it up for adoption.

These draft amendments, which will be presented during the next General House meeting on May 30, include a shift in how penalties are enforced. Instead of collecting fines in cash, the MC wants to attach them to property and water tax bills, making them harder to ignore.

Sources close to the process say the final draft incorporates public feedback received during the consultation period. The goal, they say, is to increase owners’ legal and moral responsibility, positioning pets not just as animals but as family members deserving of care, hygiene, and dignity.

If the MC receives a complaint of abuse or neglect, an official team will visit the owner’s residence to verify and record evidence. Upon confirmation, the dog can be seized, the owner's registration cancelled, and legal action initiated under animal cruelty laws. Additional financial penalties will also apply.

Major fines for Pets Defecating in Public

The revised bylaws also introduce stiffer penalties for public hygiene violations. Letting your dog relieve itself in public without cleaning up could cost you ?10,000; equal to the fine for littering under the city’s solid waste rules.

Other key proposals include:

• Mandatory seizure of pets in verified abuse cases
• Legal action against negligent owners
• Ban on new registrations of “dangerous” dog breeds
• Penalties to be added to tax bills
• Strict rules for dog breeders and sellers
• Designated stray dog feeding zones in consultation with locals

Importantly, owners of already-registered breeds that may fall under the “dangerous” category will not be penalised retroactively.

According to current bylaws, pet owners must register their dog with the MC once it turns four months old. But RK Garg, President of the Second Innings Association, pointed out that lax enforcement has rendered this requirement largely ineffective. He urged the MC to ensure 100% compliance through consistent registration drives.

In a city that is still grappling with responsible pet ownership and stray dog management, these proposed changes could mark a serious shift. from suggestion to enforcement. Whether this will create a safer, more humane space for pets remains to be seen.