Chennai, 15 December (H.S.) : The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) began imposing a penalty of five thousand rupees on pet owners across the city starting today, December fifteenth. The action follows the expiry of the final deadline for mandatory microchipping and licensing of pet dogs.

Despite conducting sixty-seven days of special camps and extending the initial November twenty-fourth deadline twice, only about fifty-four percent of the one hundred five thousand registered pet dogs have complied with the rule. The licensing requirement was introduced by the civic body to prevent the abandonment of dogs and ensure greater accountability among owners.

Authorities confirmed that the enforcement drive will initially focus on dogs found without leashes in public areas, including bus stands and schools. Speaking on the matter, Dr. R. Dhayanth from the Kannamapet Pet Clinic confirmed the initiation of penalties. He stated, From today, the GCC will begin imposing a fine of five thousand rupees on owners who haven't microchipped their dogs.

However, owners can still obtain a license after microchipping at any of the six designated GCC clinics. Enforcement teams are now equipped to scan dogs, and immediate penalties will be levied if they are found without the chip. The civic body also plans to strengthen the drive through door-to-door verification in the coming days.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary