Nagpur Dog Registration Drive Sees Low Turnout, Just 91 Applications Citywide

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) recent campaign for mandatory dog registration has received a lukewarm response, with only 91 applications filed across the city. Registration remained sparse across most zones, despite Nagpur’s population being over 30 lakh and a considerable number of households owning pets,

Zone 1 (Laxmi Nagar) recorded the highest participation with 42 registrations, followed by Zone 2 (Dharampeth) with 24. Other areas saw significantly lower numbers. Several zones, including Gandhibagh and Ashi Nagar, reported no applications at all, while Dhantoli, Nehru Nagar, and Satranjipura saw just three each. Lakadganj had a single registration.

According to residents, the low numbers may reflect a combination of limited awareness and technical challenges. “Some people don’t know where to register,” said Manoj Burade from Zone 1. “The registration link isn’t easy to locate; it should appear more clearly in online searches. Plus, many who registered earlier never renewed their licences.”

Others pointed to the shift away from offline registration as a hurdle. Pushpa Lokhande, a long-time pet owner, noted that earlier systems were easier to navigate. “Offline registration worked better for people without internet access or digital know-how. We could just go to the zonal office. Now, many rely on internet cafes or others to help with the process. Also, physical dog tags are no longer issued, I was just given a digital certificate to print myself.”

Lokhande also mentioned that while registration has been around for decades, the procedures have become stricter. “I’ve been renewing my licence for about 30 years, but the current system feels more rigid.”

A resident from Zone 2, identifying himself as the father of Twinkle Patil, said, “The website is okay to use, but there was no renewal option, so we had to apply for a new licence altogether.”

So far, the NMC has not issued a public statement on the limited participation or the feedback from residents. With many zones showing minimal registrations, the civic body might consider a review of its approach, including awareness efforts and platform usability, to ensure smoother implementation in the future.