South Delhiites will soon be paying fine for not cleaning after their dogs.

Keeping one’s surroundings clean is a lesson that South Corporation plans to remind the dog owning population in South Delhi. The corporation is proposing a law to fine all those not cleaning up their pet’s potty off the parks, footpaths, and roads of South Delhi. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, the south corporation mayor told TOI that sanitation workers will be assigned the task of charging a penalty of Rupees 500 or more from the offenders. The corporation is also working to start a pet registration programme.

The Animal Welfare Board of India had asked the pet-owning population in the year 2015 to clean up after their pets. It had also encouraged pet owners to participate in discussions with their respective colony committees to work on solutions for cleaner public spaces and ethical ways to get rid of animal waste matter.

Pet Poop Laws from around the world

The heavy fines charged by some countries abroad for not lifting the pet’s poop will completely surprise you! Violators are made to pay 6,00 Euros in Paris that is 48,500 INR.
In London the penalty for not cleaning up after the animal is close to 1,000 Pounds (92,000 INR). In the US $113 (Rs. 7,400) is charged for the same offence.

Responsible pet parents must have no qualms in cleaning after their furry kids. Image: www.dogster.com

Delhi’s South Corporation’s current move to penalize dog owners not cleaning up their pet’s poo has received mixed reactions from residents and activists. Gauri Maulekhi from People for Animals (PFA) feels that creating awareness should take precedence over penal provisions.
She elaborates that instead of penalizing violators, people must be encouraged to carry dog poop bags & scoopers and clean up after their pets.
Chetan Sharma, the general secretary of confederation of NCR Resident welfare associations (RWAS) and resident of a South Delhi colony has praised the south corporation’s initiative and policy. However he feels the corporation must provide alternative measures such as a designated space in colony parks or else where for dog’s to use for the purpose of defecation/urination. In his conversation with TOI he also talked about a small sand bed corner for dog use in his colony park that was created some 8 years ago but was later removed by MCD calling it an encroachment.

The proposed law is not only directed towards a cleaner environment but will also help in preventing diseases that can spread to humans through dog fecal matter. As per research a gram of dog’s excreta contains more than 20 million E Coli bacteria. It may also carry tape worms, hook worms, round worms, ring worms and salmonella. Round worms can cause abdominal pain, Diarrhea, fever, sore throat, asthma and blindness in humans.

A bigger worry for India is also a big stray dog population, hope the corporations can formulate policies to encompass cleaning up after strays as well as appoint the right people to carry out this task!