MOHALI: After stray dogs taking a toll on the Mohali city, now pet dogs have also instilled terror among the residents. One of the officials at the municipal corporation (MC) sanitation department said, “Till date, there have been around 10-12 cases of dog bites in the city on a daily basis. Pet dogs biting residents are rare cases we receive.”

Anil Joshi, a retired senior medical officer was a recent victim of a pet dog bite in Phase VII, Mohali. Speaking with Times of India, he said, “The MC should frame laws to get pet dogs registered. Moreover, it is a basic thing that one should leash his/her dog when they take their pet for a walk. I have often seen people taking their dogs for a walk and they don’t even dispose of the waste. In my opinion, the Chandigarh MC has strict laws in this regard.”

Ranjeev Kumar, head of the MC sanitation department, said, “There is no particular law related to pet dogs in Mohali, which is why there is no record of them with the civic body. The MC sterilises the stray dogs under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2001.”

G K Khanna, another victim who was bit by a Pit bull on Tuesday, said, “I don’t see a problem if one keeps a pet dog but one should also, on the other hand, understand the responsibility that comes with it. Registration of pet dogs should be mandatory, otherwise if such incidents take place, the owner of the dog would not be held liable as there would be no proof. It is the mindset of the people that a pet dog would never bite, but the tables can turn anytime.”

The Pit bull dog which bit Khanna was caught by the MC officials and is currently kept at a kennel in Industrial Area Phase I. The owner, Aman, has also been arrested.

