Now Reading: Lucknow mandates annual licence fee for dogs, cats
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Lucknow mandates annual licence fee for dogs, cats
The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has fixed an annual licence fee of ₹200 for Indian-breed dogs, ₹1,000 for foreign-breed dogs, and ₹500 for cats. The Uttar Pradesh government notified the bylaws in…
The Story in Brief
The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has fixed an annual licence fee of ₹200 for Indian-breed dogs, ₹1,000 for foreign-breed dogs, and ₹500 for cats. The Uttar Pradesh government notified the bylaws in the Gazette on July 11, giving formal backing to fees the LMC had already been collecting for dogs. Cats are covered for the first time. Owners must register within 15 days of acquiring a pet and pay the fee every April. The LMC has issued about 3,000 dog licences and 12 cat licences so far. Violations can attract fines up to ₹5,000 for dogs and ₹1,000 for cats.
The Indian Opinion
The new licence fee will be seen by some as yet another tax on pet owners, but pet ownership is a privilege, not a right. The real test is whether the Lucknow Municipal Corporation uses the revenue to improve animal shelters, enforce anti-stray rules, and fund sterilisation drives. Without visible improvements, the fee will feel like a cash grab. Will the LMC publish how many licences it sells and where the money goes?
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
