Register Pet Dogs or Pay Rs 5000 Fine

Srinagar, Jan 19: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has instructed the people of Srinagar to register their pet dogs with the corporation within 30 days.

The corporation has warned of the dog’s impoundment and imposition of a fine of Rs 5,000 on the owners who fail to register their pets. According to an SMC official, this procedure of registration of dogs started some time ago, and so far, 80 pet dogs have been registered.

Earlier, these pet lovers had no choice other than visiting an office to get their pets registered; however, now the department has made this process online for people, the official said.

He stated they are also making people aware that “if any person is defying this circular, he will be contacted, and if he still desists from registration, he will be fined.”

Only dogs with anti-rabies certificates will be allowed to register as pets, he said and added, “Every year, when its time for renewing the registration, the owners must first show the certificate, and then only the registration can be renewed.”

In this regard, the corporation has also issued a notice that read, “All pet dog owners residing within the SMC limits are required to get their pet dogs registered within 30 days of the publication of this notice with the Srinagar Municipal Corporation under the Jammu & Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, and Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules 2001.”

According to the public notice, a pet dog registration certificate can be obtained online at www.smcsrinagarin.com. The registration fee is Rs 500 for new registration and Rs 300 for renewal (annually).

The notice also urges owners to have their dogs sterilized (neutered or spayed) and vaccinated against Rabies.

It is relevant to mention that SMC also asked dog owners to register their pets in October last year.