Surat: Neighbors’ Consent Must for Pet Dog License

Surat, Gujarat –– For the animal lovers, it won’t be possible to keep pets without the consent of their neighbours in the diamond city of Surat. In a move that has ignited debate across the city, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has introduced one of the strictest pet ownership policies in India—**requiring a no-objection guarantee from 10 neighbors and society chairman before granting a pet dog license.

This unprecedented step follows the tragic death of a child after a pet dog bite in Ahmedabad, pushing municipal authorities into immediate action. The aim: ensure public safety, control irresponsible pet ownership, and minimize dog bite incidents.

“It’s not just about owning a dog anymore; it’s about being accountable to your community,” said Digvijay Ram, Market Superintendent at SMC. “We’ve made it mandatory for dog owners in societies and apartments to provide written guarantees from neighbors and chairpersons for license approval.”

According to SMC’s new rules:

If living in a society, the pet owner must submit guarantee letters from 10 nearby neighbors.

If in an apartment, a letter from the society chairman and neighbors is compulsory.

The Surat municipal corporation has issued notices to over 1,000 dog owners in Surat. Owners who ignore the notice will now be produced before a mobile court, where judges will decide penalties or other legal action.

So far, 256 license applications have been received. Out of these, 150 licenses were granted, while 109 were rejected following verification.

A resident of Adajan, Nirav Patel, said, “This is a bold step. Some people don’t train their dogs properly, and others have suffered because of it. But asking for 10 signatures seems excessive.”

Others view it as essential. “Safety comes first,” said Meena Shah, a resident of Vesu. “We’ve seen cases where pets bite kids in elevators. Owners must be held responsible.”

These changes come as reports of dog attacks in lifts, on streets, and in common areas have grown more frequent across Gujarat. Public outrage, especially following high-profile bite cases, has pushed authorities to take preventive measures.

Digvijay Ram emphasized that violators would be dealt with strictly. “We are not against pet lovers, but rules are rules. Keeping a dog without a license will result in legal action through the mobile court.”

SMC has also made the license forms available online and offline, streamlining the process but ensuring no dog owner escapes accountability.