FIR mandatory against dog owners in Dehradun for bites, disturbance

Dog owners in Dehradun will face legal action if their pets bite people, as the Dehradun Municipal Corporation has framed a law mandating the registration of FIRs in such cases. Owners will also invite action if they fail to control dogs that disturb public peace, especially during night hours.

Following repeated incidents involving aggressive dog breeds such as Rottweilers and Pit Bulls, the Dehradun Municipal Corporation has framed the Dog License By-law 2025 to regulate pet ownership.

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The by-law, notified and published on Monday, mandates that if a pet dog bites a person, the Municipal Corporation will compulsorily register an FIR against the owner. The provisions also allow for confiscation of dogs, apart from other legal action by the Corporation. A registration fee of ₹2,000 has been fixed for aggressive dog breeds as categorised by the civic body.

As per the municipal by-laws, sterilisation/neutering and vaccination of pet dogs will now be mandatory prior to registration. Notably, the Corporation has allowed one month for claims and objections against the Dog License By-law 2025, which has been provisionally published.

The by-law imposes stringent conditions along with a higher fee structure for the registration of aggressive dog breeds. In contrast, the registration fee for stray dogs has been waived under the Dehradun Municipal Corporation’s pet dog by-laws.

Besides mandatory FIRs in dog-bite cases, the by-law also provides for strict legal action against owners whose dogs bark excessively at night, defecate in open areas, or are left untied in public places. Owners may also be prosecuted if repeated complaints are found to be valid against them due to their pets’ behaviour.

According to Dehradun Municipal Commissioner Namami Bansal, all dogs aged three months or older must be mandatorily registered with the Corporation, with the registration remaining valid for one year. Owners will be required to submit anti-rabies vaccination and sterilisation certificates for aggressive dog breeds, issued by a licensed veterinarian.

The by-law further states that owning five or more dogs will be treated as operating a private canine shelter. Such owners will be required to have designated land with proper facilities for supervision and adequate care of the animals. Permission for running a canine shelter must be obtained from the Uttarakhand Animal Welfare Board, along with no-objection certificates from neighbouring households.

Bansal said the strict Dog License By-law was introduced due to repeated complaints of dog bites in the state capital, largely attributed to owners’ negligence.

“Following several incidents involving aggressive dogs, the Dehradun Municipal Corporation had to seriously work on formulating strong regulatory measures. The Dog License By-law 2025 has been finalised and published with strict provisions for legal action. Taking dogs out of the house will now mandatorily require a leash and muzzle. The registration fee has also been fixed,” Bansal said.