Microchip pet dogs or face Rs 3,000 fine from next month: GCC

CHENNAI: In a significant move to address the growing issue of dog bite incidents and pet abandonment in the city, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is set to make microchipping mandatory for all pet dogs from next month onwards and has decided to impose a fine of up to Rs 3,000 on violators.

This move comes in response to the surge in dog bite incidents, in which residents are harmed by pet dogs, particularly aggressive breeds like Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. However, the GCC has previously mandated the use of muzzles in public and regular rabies vaccinations to obtain a pet licence.

However, a significant number of owners have not been following the regulations. Additionally, many pet dog owners have abandoned their dogs, leading to a spike in the city's stray dog population.

To address these issues, GCC passed a resolution in its January council meeting, following a tendering process for the procurement of microchips and the development of a special app. All preparations are now complete.

According to the Corporation, it has procured 2 lakh microchips for this purpose. The GCC also aims to vaccinate 1.80 lakh stray dogs against rabies by the end of February next year, with 11,000 already having received microchips for monitoring.

The Chennai corporation veterinary officer said, “Currently, only 12,500 pet owners in Chennai have obtained licenses for their dogs. The corporation is taking steps to encourage more owners to get licenses. Pet owners who fail to get their dogs microchipped will face a fine of up to Rs 3,000. Instructions will be provided to both private and government veterinary hospitals on how to implement the new rule.”

Further, he added, “The microchipped dogs will be monitored through a dedicated mobile application, which will help trace owners if a pet is abandoned or involved in an incident.”