The Kozhikode Corporation started the procedure for issuing pet licences on Friday.
Pet owners may collect application forms at the Corporation office. The filled-in application form, along with the identity card of the owner, anti-rabies vaccination certificate of the animal and the animal’s colour photograph should be submitted at the nearest health circle office for obtaining pet licence. Before issuing the licence, health officials will conduct a site inspection to ensure that the applicant has enough facilities for raising an animal.
The civic body had started efforts to implement licensing for pets in 2015. In July 2018, the Corporation drafted a bylaw for the care of pet dogs, coinciding with the opening of the Animal Birth Control Centre at Poolakkadavu. However, the bylaw failed to obtain the approval of the State government. In July 2021, the Kerala High Court issued an order making licences mandatory for all pets. The order came against the backdrop of increasing incidents of mistreatment of animals by owners, abandoning, and absence of care during old age. It included cattle owners such as dairy farmers and others who owned pets such as horses and cats.
