Chennai: What happens when a beloved pet is suddenly left on the streets? In Chennai, authorities are now making sure pet owners cannot simply walk away from that responsibility. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has tightened regulations for people keeping pet dogs and cats within the city, with owners required to obtain a pet licence and ensure that their animals are properly identified through microchipping.

Under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998, including Section 292, and the rules framed in 2023, pet owners are required to register their animals, while applications for licences and microchips can be submitted online.

The latest enforcement drive also comes with a significant financial penalty: owners who abandon or deliberately leave their pet dogs or cats on roads or in public places can face a fine of ₹25,000. Importantly, the penalty can apply even if the animal already has a valid licence, meaning registration does not give owners the right to release or abandon their pets in public spaces.

As part of the system, licensed dogs and cats are to be fitted with microchips containing details such as the owner’s name, address and anti-rabies vaccination information. The system is intended to help authorities trace the owner if a pet is found wandering or abandoned and also maintain records of whether the animal is receiving its required anti-rabies vaccinations. The move follows repeated complaints received by the Greater Chennai Corporation about pet animals being left on roads despite the existing licensing system.

To improve compliance, the GCC had launched an online pet licensing system in October last year, making registration more accessible to residents. According to the information provided, by July this year, 78,232 pet owners had been issued licences. With the ₹25,000 penalty now being enforced against owners who abandon pets in public spaces, authorities hope the stricter approach will encourage greater responsibility among pet owners and reduce cases of abandoned animals on city streets.

The message from the civic authorities is clear : keeping a pet is not just about companionship it also comes with a legal responsibility to care for, register and properly manage the animal.

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