Is Dog Registration Ahmedabad Mandatory? AMC Warns Fines

Ahmedabad: Nearly a year after making pet dog registration mandatory, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is set to take strict action against non-compliant pet owners. With registration numbers far below expectations, AMC is finalizing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that includes heavy fines and even possible imprisonment for repeat offenders.

Despite multiple deadline extensions and fee revisions, compliance remains poor. Of an estimated 50,000 pet dogs in the city, only about 18,000 have been registered so far, prompting the civic body to move towards tougher enforcement.

Why AMC Is Tightening the Rules

Authorities decided to introduce penalties after a high-level review meeting chaired by the municipal commissioner. They expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of registrations, even though the program has been in place since January 1, 2025.

AMC Cattle Nuisance Control Department (CNCD) initiated the registration drive with several purposes:

• To develop official statistics of pet dogs in the city.
• To secure yearly vaccination records, particularly for rabies.
• In an effort to endorse the national objective of rabies-free cities.
• To assist in the solution of a pet conflict based on proven documents

Researchers have consistently cautioned that unregistered and unvaccinated dogs pose a significant health risk to the population, particularly in densely populated cities.

Penalties for Non-Registration: What Pet Owners Should Know

Though the SOP remains a rough draft, the officials of AMC have implemented a well-defined penalty regime that strives to make sure that compliance is achieved:

• First offence: Fine of ₹20,000
• Second offence: Fine raised to 50,000 rupees.
• Third offence: Police case to be instigated against the owner.

Enforcement teams will then start inspecting across residential areas soon after notification of SOP.

Registration Fees and Compliance So Far

The pet dog registration program was first started at a nominal fee of 200 per dog. Nevertheless, due to bad attendance, AMC changed the fee structure in slabs, and later brought it to 2000 per dog by the end of 2025.

As of December 31, the registration data shows:

• Total registered dogs: 18,962
• Total registered owners: 16,674

Zone-wise Registration Breakdown

• West Zone: 4,785
• North West Zone: 3,897
• East Zone: 2,773
• South West Zone: 2,510
• South Zone: 2,300
• North Zone: 1,946
• Central Zone: 751

According to the officials, the weakest response has been observed in central and older areas of the city, which will now be an enforcement area.

Benefits of Registering Your Pet Dog

Registration is not only a legal requirement but also advantageous to the owners of pets (AMC and animal welfare experts):

• Acts as proof of ownership
• Has current vaccination records.
• Helps in lost pet recovery
• Helpful in case of neighbourhood or legal squabbles.
• Makes it easier to obtain a license in the future, which is the next step.

As soon as the registration compliance increases, AMC will introduce the system of licensing pet dogs, which will strengthen the regulation further.

What Comes Next

AMC has already indicated that leniency is no longer going to be. Here is a revised, simplified version with shorter sentences and clear messaging, keeping the meaning intact and improving readability:

Pet owners are being advised to complete dog registration as soon as possible. This will help them avoid heavy fines and legal issues.

Civic officials clarified that the goal is not punishment. The focus is on public safety, responsible pet ownership, and disease prevention. However, with deadlines already over, AMC believes strict action is now unavoidable.

For pet dog owners in Ahmedabad, the message is clear: register your dog immediately or be prepared to pay the penalty.