Civic authorities are under pressure to initiate necessary actions after a pet Rottweiler killed a four-month-old baby four days ago.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is now contemplating strict enforcement measures that could significantly raise the accountability bar for pet owners. Among the options being discussed is the disconnection of water and sewage services to households where pets have caused harm.
According to a report in a national daily, a senior AMC official said that pet owners must be held fully responsible and liable for their animals’ actions. The official clarified that while these measures are still under discussion, a final decision would be taken soon. Measures under consideration include monetary penalties and civic utility disconnections if a dog attacks anyone outside the premises where it is kept.
This fatal incident has triggered a sharp and visible response from both the public and authorities. In just two days following the attack, the AMC recorded 630 new pet dog registrations—a stark spike compared to the 305 registrations during the entire month of April. As of the afternoon of May 15, a total of 6,088 pet dogs had been registered with the AMC by 5,350 owners.
However, a crucial detail stands out: not a single Rottweiler had been registered up to May 13, according to a tabloid. Ahmedabad is believed to have nearly 50,000 pet dogs, pointing to a large number of unregistered pets within the city. Among all zones, the west zone leads with 1,663 registered dogs, followed by the north-west zone with 1,412.
Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel stated that the state is in the process of drafting a policy to ban the domestication of “wild dogs” and take strict action against people who keep such animals in their homes. While Rottweilers are not officially listed as wild dogs, the breed has been banned in some Indian states. It remains uncertain whether the proposed policy will specifically target domestic breeds like Rottweilers, the daily reported.
Amid mounting pressure, the AMC has moved to make pet dog registration mandatory. Devang Dani, Chairman of the AMC Standing Committee, said that pet owners who fail to comply may face disconnection of water and sewage services, along with potential police action.
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