2,900 new licences issued, 6K applications renewed

Mumbai: The response from pet dog owners for getting a licence has been encouraging. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued about 2,900 licences to pet dog owners this year.

According to civic officials, the BMC simplified its online licence system since August 1, this year. After that, the civic body has issued 2,900 new licences and renewed about 6,000 applications from pet dog owners.

Under section 191(A) of the MMC Act, it is mandatory for owners of pet dogs to obtain a licence. The BMC charges Rs 105 for providing a licence and then Rs 100 for its renewal every year. The Act has a provision that dogs can be seized if the owner fails to obtain a licence or renew it.

“To facilitate the registration and renewal for licences, the civic body simplified its online system from August 1. As a part of it, the BMC made the facility to seek or renew the licence online, wherein citizens can obtain the licence by sitting at home. For this, they have to upload all documents of their pet, including the doctors certificate of having given anti-rabies and leptospirosis vaccines,” said civic officials.

According to civic officials, though the lice-nce was mandatory for pet dogs, it was not implemented strictly. However, in view of rising cases of dog bites in recent years, the BMC decided to get strict with the implementation of norms.