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.
Dogs are often seen as a threat and many a time, pet parents face outright discrimination, harassment and 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 law 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 a list of fresh guidelines directing the housing society, pet owners 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.
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 stress 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.
The guidelines issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India says:
For pet owners:
As a responsible society, one must adhere to the pet dog laws in India and make sure:
As much as it is the responsibility of 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 of any inconvenience to others in the society.
Pets are considered as a family by pet owners and one must respect that emotion. But raising a dog in an apartment is always a tough nut to crack. However, with proper training by pet parents and adhering to the rules and regulations to keep a dog in an apartment, residents, pet owners and management committee can come to a mutual agreement and a harmonious co-existence.
Comment below to share your experience as a pet owner living in a gated community. You can also visit www.nobrokerhood.com for more pet-related blogs.