'Pet love needs responsibility, not just affection'

Sunny Dua

sunnydua55@gmail.com

The recent Pit Bull attack on a couple in Patiala, who had gone to see a house for rent, is a chilling reminder of how quickly irresponsible handling of a pet can turn into a serious threat to human life. The incident, which was captured on CCTV and has since drawn widespread attention, should serve as an eye-opener for pet owners everywhere especially in Jammu where people have started keeping furious breeds without caution.

For Jammu, the incident should prompt an even more serious question: how many pet owners in the city are actually complying with the rules governing pet ownership? Jammu is no longer the small city it once was. With the upgradation of Jammu Municipality to Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), the city has been divided into 75 wards and today covers approximately 240 square kilometres. Alongside its physical expansion, Jammu has also witnessed a visible rise in the culture of keeping pets, particularly dogs.

From residential colonies and independent houses to apartments and newly developing localities, dogs have increasingly become part of the urban household. Yet, against this growing pet culture, the number of registered pet dogs appears remarkably small. Information available with the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) puts the number of registered pet dogs just at around 3,100. Even without an elaborate statistical exercise, that number appears far too low for a city of Jammu's size and population.

Animal welfare circles and people familiar with the city's pet culture believe that the actual number of dogs being kept by families could be several times higher, with some estimates suggesting it may even be close to ten times the registered number. Such estimates, however, would need official verification. The gap between registered and unregistered pets is not merely a matter of paperwork. It raises questions about public safety, vaccination, sterilisation, identification and, most importantly, accountability.

The Corporation has already made registration of pet dogs mandatory. In its March 2026 advisory, JMC directed all pet dog owners within its municipal limits to register their animals and specifically reminded owners that they are responsible for the actions of their dogs, including any public nuisance or harm caused to others. The Corporation has also directed that dogs should not be allowed to roam freely, must be taken out on a leash or chain, and ferocious breeds must be properly muzzled while being taken outside.

What is particularly striking is that the registration facility is not difficult to access. The process is available online through the government portal, while physical assistance is also available through the concerned JMC veterinary authorities. Yet, many owners continue to treat registration casually, as if it were an optional municipal formality.

Dr Gourav Chowdhary, Animal Welfare Officer, Jammu Municipal Corporation, says many people simply do not understand the consequences of failing to register their pets. One reason cited by owners, he says, is the registration fee of Rs 500, which some consider excessive. But when compared with the financial and legal consequences that can follow an accident, the registration fee is hardly a burden.

The first principle of pet ownership is therefore simple: the owner, not the animal, must bear responsibility for the animal's conduct. If a pet dog bites or seriously injures somebody, the circumstances can bring the owner under scrutiny for negligence. The legal position becomes particularly serious where an animal has been kept without the safeguards required by law. Section 291 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 deals with negligent conduct with respect to animals and provides for imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to Rs 5,000, or both, where a person fails to take sufficient measures to guard against probable danger to human life or grievous hurt from an animal in his or her possession as has been seen in Patiala where the couple were severely injured by Dog.

JMC has itself demonstrated that action can follow a dog attack. In 2023, the Corporation seized a Pit Bull after a complaint that it had attacked a neighbour and imposed a penalty of Rs 3,000 on the owner for not registering the dog. JMC stated at the time that penalties of up to Rs 5,000 could be imposed on defaulters. This should leave no room for confusion among pet owners.

Registration is not simply about obtaining a certificate. Under the Jammu Municipal Corporation Act, provisions exist for registration of dogs and for registered dogs to wear a collar carrying the metal identification token issued by the registering authority. The tag, therefore, is not merely an ornament on the animal's collar; it forms part of the identification and accountability mechanism. Unfortunately, the problem is much larger than registration alone.

There appears to be a growing tendency among some people to acquire dogs because a particular breed is fashionable. A Husky looks attractive. A German Shepherd has a reputation as a powerful guard dog. A Pit Bull may be seen by some as a symbol of strength. But bringing such an animal home without understanding its temperament, physical requirements, training needs, food requirements and suitability to the local climate can create problems for both the animal and its owner. Dogs accustomed to particular climatic conditions may require specialised care. Large, energetic breeds need adequate space and exercise. Keeping such dogs locked on a terrace or confined to a tiny room for long periods is neither responsible nor humane.

JMC's latest advisory specifically requires owners to provide adequate space, accommodation, food and medical treatment and allows inspection of premises at reasonable times to verify the health status and registration documents. Dr Gourav goes on to add that there are also cases where in some households, owners do not provide proper food or veterinary attention; in others, dogs are kept in hot and humid conditions and rarely allowed outdoors.

A dog that is constantly confined, isolated or frustrated may become difficult to handle and, in some circumstances, aggressive. What begins as a decision made out of affection or fashion can eventually become a source of distress for both the animal and the family. That is why prospective pet owners should ideally seek counselling before bringing a dog home. They need to ask themselves whether they can afford the animal's food, vaccination, medical treatment and grooming.

Even pedigree and breeding considerations matter. There is little wisdom in purchasing an expensive breed merely because it is trending on social media and then discovering that its food, grooming, medical care and exercise requirements are beyond the family's capacity. This is where the growing trend of adopting stray dogs in Jammu offers an interesting alternative. A number of animal lovers have started adopting local stray dogs rather than purchasing expensive breeds.

Apart from providing a home to an animal in need, such dogs are already acclimatised to the local environment and weather. Yet, even an adopted local dog requires responsible care. Adoption cannot become an excuse for neglect, just as purchasing an expensive pedigree dog cannot become an excuse for treating it as a status symbol. Another concern that deserves urgent attention is the pet trade.

Dr Gourav Chowdhary points out that pet shops and breeding activities have also emerged as an area requiring stronger regulation. JMC's veterinary wing itself lists the registration of pet shops, pet clinics, pet traders and bird traders within JMC limits among its functions. The concern arises when operators attempt to circumvent municipal restrictions by shifting outside JMC limits, keeping animals in warehouses or homes, or breeding puppies privately and subsequently putting them up for sale.

The closure or sealing of a shop, therefore, cannot by itself solve the problem if the same business simply changes its location or method of operation. There are also reports of people sourcing dogs from neighbouring Punjab when particular breeds are not readily available in Jammu. Such movement and sale of animals need proper oversight so that vaccination, breeding, health and ownership records do not disappear somewhere between seller and buyer. The larger regulatory ecosystem also needs strengthening.

The absence of a fully functional animal welfare regulatory framework in the Union Territory, as pointed out by people working in the field, makes enforcement more complicated and calls for better coordination between municipal authorities, Animal Husbandry authorities and animal welfare institutions.

Dr Gourav Chowdhary said that the JMC under the able guidance of Mandeep Kour, Commissioner/Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD), has taken a significant leap forward in strengthening the ABC programme. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and the Animal Husbandry Department are also being brought on board to ensure coordinated implementation and to drastically reduce the birth rate among stray animals.

He further pointed out that strict checks are also being undertaken on pet shops and individual pet owners who indulge in clandestine breeding and subsequently sell puppies in the market. Such unauthorised breeding and sale is not only illegal but also goes against the spirit of responsible pet ownership, animal welfare and the ethics underlying the ABC programme. JMC's advisory requires owners to get their pets sterilised so that they do not contribute to uncontrolled breeding.

This becomes particularly important when owners allow dogs to breed at home and subsequently sell or abandon puppies. The issue, therefore, is not about being against pets or against particular breeds. Nor should every dog be viewed as a threat.

For Jammu, the message should be unmistakable. If you keep a dog, register it. Get it vaccinated. Get it sterilised where required. Ensure that the identification tag is displayed on its collar. Train it properly. Use a leash outside the home and muzzle ferocious breeds as directed. Provide adequate food, medical care, ventilation and living space. Do not lock it indefinitely on a terrace or in a cramped enclosure. Give it regular exercise and attention. And, above all, understand that if the animal causes harm, the owner cannot simply wash his or her hands of the matter.

A dog should not be bought because it is fashionable, because a neighbour has one, because children demand it or because social media has made a particular breed look desirable. It should be brought home only when the family is prepared to accept the commitment that comes with another living being. Pet ownership is not a privilege without conditions. It is a responsibility with legal, social and moral consequences. And perhaps the most important lesson from Patiala for Jammu is this: love your pet, but never forget your responsibility towards everyone who lives around it.

(The writer is senior journalist)