Mumbai residents and institutions must adapt to a sweeping set of animal welfare guidelines issued this week by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Aimed at harmonising the relationship between pet owners, street-animal caregivers, and housing societies, these new protocols—enforced under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and Supreme Court directives—are designed to streamline responsibilities and ensure mutual respect in shared urban spaces.
The guidelines arise from increasing tensions between dog-loving citizens and residents unhappy with noise, hygiene, or perceived nuisance—conflicts that have escalated with the rise of pets in Mumbai households and parallel care for street animals. The BMC notes that while feeding strays is legal and socially encouraged, it must be practised responsibly.Under the new norms, individuals feeding street dogs or cats are required to designate clean, non-congested zones—ideally away from children’s play areas or pedestrian walkways. Only cooked, non-spoilt food is permitted, and feeding should occur during low-footfall hours such as early morning or late evening. Caregivers are further urged to participate in sterilisation and vaccination drives to control stray populations humanely.
Residential societies—through RWAs and AOAs—are barred from imposing blanket bans on pets or prescribing size restrictions, which infringe on citizens’ legal rights. However, they may collaborate with residents to regulate feeding times and areas. Crucially, societies are held accountable under animal cruelty laws for mistreatment or abandonment of pets and strays. The rules also advocate forming Animal Welfare Committees, a measure to boost civic engagement and animal care oversight.Pet owners face specific obligations as well. Registration and licensing of all dogs under Section 191B of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, are now mandatory. Additionally, owners must ensure pets are clean, vaccinated, dewormed and preferably sterilised. Public behaviour rules include leash requirements, immediate removal of pet waste, and supervised walking, particularly for children under 18.
Schools, tech parks, and institutional campuses are also subject to the new guidelines. Any animals living on campus must remain in situ; removal is prohibited unless part of an official sterilisation-and-release programme. Institutions are expected to provide food, water, shelter and humane treatment, with staff trained to handle animals sensitively. Educational signage is recommended to foster coexistence.The BMC has also established a dedicated helpline (96358 39888) and online portal (vhd.mcgm.gov.in) to register complaints, seek licensing guidance or report animal welfare concerns. This centralised access reflects an emphasis on equitable enforcement and public access to support.
These measures align with Mumbai’s ambition to become a more equitable, eco-friendly and inclusive city—where human and animal residents coexist peacefully. The enforcement of these guidelines signals a progressive step, balancing individual rights with communal responsibilities and amplifying public awareness on sustainable urban living.However, successful implementation rests on community cooperation across homeowners, institutions, activist groups and the BMC. Local Resident Welfare Associations, often the first point of interface, will play a pivotal role in rolling out feeding zones, committees and signage. For tech parks and schools, embedding animal-care routines into campus protocols is crucial.
The guidelines could serve as a template for other Indian metropolis grappling with increasing pet ownership alongside sprawling stray animal communities. If enforced effectively, Mumbai’s policy may restore civility to shared spaces and affirm the city’s commitment to compassionate, zero-net-carbon urban governance.
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