Chennai launches citywide pet survey and licensing

Starting on 24 November, the Chennai pet licensing survey will begin as the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) conducts a door-to-door drive across the city. The purpose of this survey is to collect accurate and verified data on household pets, including dogs and cats, living in residential homes. Through the Chennai pet licensing survey, officials aim to ensure pets are properly registered, vaccinated, and traceable.

The civic authority is urging residents to register their pets online before 23 November. After this date, owners without a valid pet licence will face a ₹5,000 fine.

To apply for a licence, pet owners must pay an annual fee of ₹50 per pet for dogs and cats. In addition, GCC has launched a free microchipping program for pet dogs. It began on 8 October at six GCC pet clinics located in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Pullianthope, Kannammapet, Lloyds Colony, Nungambakkam, and Meenambakkam.

Anti-rabies vaccination of such animals is also being provided free of charge along with microchipping.

What is the reason the survey and licensing should be done?

According to GCC officials, many urban residents own pets. However, there is very little official data about them. The civic agency currently lacks complete information on pets living in households.

The upcoming survey will help map the number of dogs and cats in the city. It will also record their vaccination status, licence details, and microchipping status. By linking the survey to fines for unlicensed pets, the Corporation aims to increase compliance. This move will also encourage residents to become responsible pet owners.

What pet owners must do

In Chennai, which has a dog or a cat, the following is what you need to do:

• Go to the GCC online portal and obtain a pet-animal licence for 50/ year. 
• Make sure your pet is vaccinated against rabies and has with valid health certificate; otherwise, your application can be rejected. 
• In the case of dogs, utilise the service of free microchipping of pets in the designated clinics, which identifies your pet as unique in the civic database.
• On 23 November, at the time of the survey, you will face a 5000-rupee fine in case your pet is not licensed.
• Always have a copy of the licence certificate in the house since the sanitary or veterinary personnel may inspect the door-to-door survey.

The consequences of pets and the health of people.

There are several advantages of this step by the Corporation. The licensed population of pets would simplify the task of maintaining the records of the population and tracing the pets lost by their owners, keeping track of the number of pets vaccinated and the rates of rabies or other cases of aggressive animals.

Microchipping also increases identification of pets and assists in connecting the animal to its owner. Having the right data on the ownership of pets, GCC can plan veterinary services, control over stray animals, and access regulations of the park or public spaces.

Points for neighbours and community

In the case of neighbourhoods, this programme recommends the need to own pets responsibly. Pets might increase safety issues on their own or when unlicensed or unvaccinated. The owners need to make sure that pets are healthy, identifiable, and well-behaved. The message that is well conveyed by the survey and licence regime is that pets are a component of the urban ecosystem and responsible ownership safeguards the pet and the community.

Key take-aways

• Household survey of dogs/cats starts on 24 Nov within the zones of Chennai.
• Before 23 Nov licence is required; the cost is 50 per pet yearly.
• Subsequently, unlicensed pets can also entail a ₹5,000 fine.
• Free microchipping and anti-rabies vaccination of six GCC clinics.
• The owners are to apply online through the GCC portal, be vaccinated, and retain a licence certificate at home.
• Approach enhances pet information, identification, public health, and civic-pet control.

It is a good opportunity to verify your pet licence and vaccination status, and microchip status, which is also a good opportunity to check Chennai pet-owners, as well as to ensure that you are within the law before you face the law. It is intended to ensure that ownership of pets is healthy and safe in the city.