Pet Management

Know your rights as a pet owner residing in a gated community

Published: June 24, 2025

Being a pet parent isn’t always easy, especially when one is looking for a house. Finding a place where a pet, particularly, a dog, can stay without any eyebrows being raised is a challenge. Raising a dog in an apartment can be tough due to general dog rules in society that often vary from one complex to another.

Dogs are often seen as a threat and many a time, pet parents face outright discrimination, harassment and are treated unfairly by neighbours because there is a dog at home. There also have been instances where pet owners were forced to either give up their dogs or vacate the house.

Though many RWAs, over the years, have come up with clauses in their bye-laws for pet owners, do you as a pet parent know what the actual pet laws in India says? It is essential to understand that you have certain pet ownership laws if you have a pet at home and residing in a housing society.

To maintain a harmonious co-existence between pet owners and other society members, the government has set guidelines for pet owners living in apartments and those who feed strays to ensure the protection of pets and stray animals. It also said that RWA and AOA cannot impose a blanket ban on having pets at home.

What Do The Pet Laws in India Say?

Article 51A (g) of the Indian Constitution states that every Indian citizen must protect and have compassion for all living creatures. If pets are not allowed in apartment complexes, it is a direct violation of the Constitution of India. Furthermore, section 11(3) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 stresses on the duty of every citizen to show kindness and compassion towards every living creature. Laws for dogs in India must be followed by the management committee, residents and pet owners.

Animal Welfare Board of India guidelines:

The rules for pet dogs in society are issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India:

For pet owners:

Pets are family, and when feeling bodies are hurried, they must not be abandoned.
Barking is a predestined quality of a dog that is natural and must be tolerated as long as pet owners don’t allow their dogs to bark, but when it is too much and especially not at night, this can lead to problems.
Pets must be maintained in a clean manner and kept healthy, vaccination being a part of that.
Pets must be put on a leash in areas of society for safety for everyone, but RWAs are not able to enforce muzzling.
There is no guarantee that pets are cleaned up after, during walks, and RWAs will need to provide a gated area for dogs, or designated pet corners, to poop and dispose of poop.
Pets cannot be prohibited from using elevators or in parks, and cannot charge extra for their ownership of a pet.
There is an advantage to pet owners by not charging extra fees for pet ownership, compared to GOVERNMENT fees, and that is a good thing.
Discrimination on pet breed or size is illegal.
Residents may feed stray cats and dogs, but not litter, and not feed dogs in front of other residents’ living areas.

Role of Apartment Management Committee

As a responsible society, one must adhere to the pet dog laws in India and make sure:

Not to start a tiff by creating bye-laws banning pets. Even with majority consent.
Do not create bye-laws that can be an inconvenience to pet owners in a society such as disallowing the use of lift, etc.
Keep a record of vaccination and sterilization.
Designate pet spots for walks, defecation, etc.
The management committee can impose fines if pet owners are found neglecting the above-stated laws or if found creating a nuisance to other residents.
Create awareness among other residents and educate them to respect pet rules in society and pet owners fairly without discrimination. Make sure they don’t provoke a pet.

Role of Pet Owners

As much as it is the responsibility of the management committee to adhere to the rules for pet owners in apartments, pet owners are equally responsible to take care of their pets and make sure they do not cause any inconvenience to others in the society. Therefore following are the guidelines for pet owners living in apartments.

Timely vaccination is mandatory and make sure the renewal is done every year.
Train your pets to be obedient and behave when they are being taken for walks or to play in the society premises. Toilet training too is very important. While dogs can be trained to answer nature’s call in the washroom, cats can have a litter tray.
Always carry a scooper while talking about the premises.
Keep your pets clean and maintain hygiene.
Always keep your dog on a leash when taking them on walks. Muzzle is not compulsory.
Never leave your pets unattended and unsupervised in the society complex.
Give your dog ample exercise and playtime for a healthy lifestyle.

Society Management System by NoBrokerHood

NoBrokerHood’s society management system provides the tools to reinforce rules and streamline pet processes in society, helping with things such as pet registration, maintaining vaccination records, and responsible pet ownership. It helps RWAs to send updates to residents about all things pet-related, and it allows residents to use the app to determine areas for dogs, track complaints in an impartial manner, and share knowledge. The platform provides custom rule settings and educational content providing context to residents about their obligations and rights under pet laws in India, in an attempt to create a pet-friendly and harmonious environment for all.

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FAQ’s

1. Can a housing society put a no pets rule on the apartments?

No, housing societies cannot prohibit people from owning pets. The Animal Welfare Board of India and Article 51A(g) of the Indian Constitution give you the right to keep pets. Such a prohibition would be unconstitutional.

2. Can pets occupy the lifts and parks in apartment complexes?

Yes, housing societies cannot prohibit pets using common facilities, such as lifts or parks. These are not legally supportable and violate the pet owner’s right to use all facilities.

3. What does a pet owner’s responsibilities in gated communities entail?

A pet owner should keep their pets vaccinated on time, walk their pets on a leash, clean up after their pets, and maintain hygiene to ensure they do not offend other residents.

4. Can RWAs charge pet owners for added fees or implement specific rules?

No, RWAs cannot charge added maintenance fees or specific fees for pet owners. The guidelines stipulate that no discrimination can take place on grounds of type, size or breed.

5. Can residents feed stray dogs in society?

Yes, residents can feed stray animals, but this must be done responsibly without causing littering or disturbance and away from residences.