'One Pet Dog Per Flat': Bengaluru's Pet Licensing Scheme Leaves Canine Lovers Unhappy

Bengaluru's civic body's decision to limit the number of per dogs that can be parented in flats and independent houses has left the city residents fuming.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) would be enforcing the rules within its limits, it said in an official release.

"New pet licensing scheme from BBMP has mandated that only one approved dog can be reared in a flat while an independent house cannot have more than three dogs," Bengaluru Mayor, Sampath Raj told ANI.

The new rules also mandated the dog owners to get a license consisting of a radio collar with an embedded chip. A pet parent will have to pay a fine of Rs 1,000 if the dog has no license.

Activists feel the move will lead to the abandonment of dogs. “While I think microchipping and fining those who do not pick up their dog’s poop from public spaces are steps in the right direction, how can the Palike tell people how many dogs they should keep?" told Priya Chetty Rajagopal, citizen activist and founder of Cubbon Park Canines to TOI.

The unwelcome move by the civic body has left pet parents worried and angry. Dog lovers from the city took to microblogging site Twitter and protested against the rule with the hashtag #notwithoutmydog.

"Hi @BBMPCOMM I can't believe you would pass such a ridiculous law of limiting the number of dogs per house and not listing stray dogs as legal. Great way to celebrate world environment day by not allowing people to rescue dogs into loving homes. #bbmp #NotWithoutMyDog"

Hi @BBMPCOMM I can't believe you would pass such a ridiculous law of limiting the number of dogs per house and not listing stray dogs as legal. Great way to celebrate world environment day by not allowing people to rescue dogs into loving homes. #bbmp #NotWithoutMyDog pic.twitter.com/L6qqWrHB3k

— Harish Iyengaar (@scaryhairyman) June 5, 2018

Would you ask anyone to.giveup a family member? Would you actually give them up even if asked?! @BBMP_MAYOR #NotWithoutMyDogs #NotWithoutMyDog pic.twitter.com/edcQPx875b

— Devisri Sarkar (@DevisriSarkar) June 6, 2018

#notwithoutmydog@BBMP_MAYOR
The one dog one apartment Proposed rule is unacceptable .we want this withdrawn immediately @siddaramaiah @hd_kumaraswamy @rajeevgowda @krishnabgowda @thekjgeorge @dineshgrao pic.twitter.com/oIOzoWdYHq

— Dipali Sikand (@SikandDipali) June 5, 2018

Absolutely appalled by this ruling on number of dogs per house. Why not number of children per house then? Have the law makers taken leave of their senses? #notwithoutmydog https://t.co/721hBWJDhs

— Vinit Taneja (@vinit_taneja) June 5, 2018

#notwithoutmydog My dogs are part of my family. #BBMP has proved that they don't consider dogs to be living beings but a thing that people own and can throw away as they please. Their new rules will hamper rescue efforts!

— Tania (@sekhontania) June 5, 2018

#NotWithoutMyDog Kara and Brownie need me as much as I need them. pic.twitter.com/tx6v7Iw3QL

— Radha Thomas (@radhathomas) June 5, 2018

#NotWithoutMyDog We can't have these kind of laws. Think about those #dogs they are like family members. People are taking care of them like children @BBMPCOMM @BBMP_MAYOR pic.twitter.com/78lPbmBpbq

— martin vimal kumar (@martinvml) June 6, 2018

#notwithoutmydog
So glad my kids are not in Bangalore. How would I, otherwise, choose one of them? Oh wait, #BBMP says Indies are illegal! So, I would have to give up both of them. #nonsenselaws #notgivingup pic.twitter.com/CzrRIjLcmn

— Richa Kashyap (@Richa250488) June 6, 2018

A petition on change.org-- BBMP, why punish responsible pet owners instead of backyard breeders? is also doing rounds on social media and has been signed almost 7,000 times.