Are pet owners and non-pet owners constantly at odds in your housing society? The ongoing clash between pet parents and non-pet owners has persisted for a long time, with common points of contention including pet parents not cleaning up after their animals.
Issues in a housing complex that leads to non-pet owners vs pet owners
Some of the prevalent concerns are:
Hygiene and lack of cleanliness
According to Nishat Jain, a resident of a gated community in Mulund, “I can’t walk barefoot on the building lawn, and my kids can’t roll in the grass, all because some pets soil it and there’s no one to clean up after them. Although around only 20% of owners have pets in my complex, the disturbances created definitely affect 80% of owners who do not have pets and some responsible pet owners too. More than the pets themselves, it is the irresponsibility of some pet owners that leads to daily conflicts in the society’s WhatsApp group.”
Not cleaning up after the pets especially in common shared areas is the biggest bone of contention between pet owners and non-pet owners. “There are many irresponsible pet owners in the society complex who make life miserable for the others. For instance, in our complex during the rainy season, pet owners take their pets to relieve in the basements of the building. This results in stinky and stained basements of our premium housing society. While they argue that they can’t take the pets outside in the rains, they don’t understand that not cleaning the pet waste is a big hygiene problem for all the residents. So, this is more of a case of being non-compliant by the pet owner and now our society has to rely on CCTVs for booking defaulters,” says Ann Fernandes, a resident of a premium gated community in Nerul, Navi Mumbai.
However, note that in the same complex, there are pet owners like Poonam who carry disinfectants and bags to clean up any area the pet soils so that there is no reason for any infection or foul smell that other residents may need to face.
Feeding strays
There are some people in the society who don’t have pets but feed the strays inside the society, without taking into consideration if it’s an approved place and if it is cleaned regularly. This is another big problem as the strays soil the complex, with no one to take responsibility for them.
Allergy
Pet allergy is for real and there are people who get affected by the pet dander in closed and shared areas such as lobbies, escalators etc., that result in issues such as asthma, itching, sneezing etc.
Safety concerns
One of the reasons for not being pro pet is because of fear of them. While the rules mention that the pets should be on leash when in public, there are some pet owners or dog walkers who let their dogs roam unleashed in public areas. “Don’t be scared, she won’t do anything.” However, this is hardly reassuring, especially after one of the dogs recently scratched a young girl,” says Bhavani Shankar, a Pune resident.
Fernandes added that there was a recent case of a pet dog chasing a differently abled child on the podium for over 10 minutes. The owner just brushed it off by saying, the pet wanted to play but the child was traumatised.
“While pet owners believe their pets should have the same freedom as others, non-pet owners often have a different perspective, largely driven by fear of pets. There are pet parents who are very considerate by not opting for the lift when it has other people and take their pets to areas outside the complex for their jobs,” says Ravi Shinde, former secretary of a housing society in Seawoods.
“Irresponsible pet owners quote the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) Guidelines, 2015, and take up fights with non-pet owners instead of taking responsibility for their pets. This spoils the atmosphere of the entire complex. In our complex, out of 251 flats, there may be not more than 20 pet owners of which 2 to 3 are non-compliant to any pet policy and make life miserable for the rest others with their non-stop arguments and threats to complain to the animal welfare board,” adds P K Lakshmi, a owner of a housing unit in a gated community.
What prompted RWA rules for pets in Maharashtra?
While there have been conflicts of interest between pet-parents and non-pet parents, the case of discovering over 300 cats in a 3-BHK of Marvel Bounty Society in Hadapsar in February 2025 compelled having a strict policy in place. After intervention by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), the cats were moved to another shelter in Kharadi, Pune.
Pets in housing society: Dog license must in Navi Mumbai
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has mandated all pet parents living in the Navi Mumbai jurisdiction to have a valid dog license. The municipal body recently implemented the NMMC Dog Tax regulation 1993, as part of rules for people who keep dogs as pets without license will be penalised heavily, the local body mentioned. The licenses can be applied online through the NMMC portal https://www.nmmc.gov.in/. You can apply for the license by clicking on citizen services and selecting Health Department.
Pet policy for society
With a surge in the number of people keeping pets, such as dogs, and animal lovers showing empathy by feeding street dogs, there have been reports of conflicts between pet owners and non-pet owners, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) or Apartment Owners’ Associations. To avoid this conflict the BMC has framed necessary guidelines.
To safeguard the interests of non-pet owners, the Maharashtra State Cooperatives Department has instructed housing societies to frame a pet policy.
It is illegal for a housing society to pass pet bye laws that disallow pets. However, society can make and enforce rules and regulations for keeping dogs to ensure the welfare of the pet as well as for safeguarding the interest of the residents. Efforts must be made to create time slots, when the pets can access gardens, parks and grounds. Pets need to be vaccinated and owners must keep vaccination records.
While the policy is intended to protect the rights of those without pets, it is drafted in compliance with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) Guidelines, 2015. The BMC policy ensures that rights of pets and their owners are protected and the pet owner takes responsibility to not create problems for fellow neighbours.
Housing societies’ rules for pets: Key points outlined by BMC
Based on the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) Guidelines, 2015, mentioned are the recommendations for the various stakeholders of the pet policy.
When the RWA frames the policy, detailed below are points they should heed to with respect to pet dogs and their owners who are residents of the society. While framing the pet policy, no bye-laws can be made or amended that are different from what the law of the land states.
1) Pet dog ban in society
Even after getting majority support from non-pet owners, RWA cannot legally ban keeping of pet dogs in a housing society. RWA cannot decide that an owner can keep small dogs but can’t keep large dogs. These bans cannot be proposed on the basis of dog barking that may/may not disturb non-pet owners.
Residents’ Welfare Associations and Apartment Owners Associations (together referred as associations) cannot legally introduce any sort of ban on keeping of pet dogs/cats. Both the associations cannot insist that ‘small sized’ dogs are acceptable and ‘large sized’ dogs are not or fix any specifications relating to dogs/cats.
Obtaining consensus, or even if the majority of residents and occupiers want it, a ‘ban’ cannot be legally introduced on the keeping of pet dogs.
If the residents or occupiers that have pets are not violating any municipal or other laws, it is not permissible for associations to object to their having pets as companions.
However, note that under Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, animals that cannot be legally kept captive cannot be kept as pets in a housing society. The same goes for wild and dangerous animals.
2) Lift usage by pet dogs in society
The RWA cannot disallow pets from the use of lifts. Also, no charges can be imposed by the RWAs on pet owners for using lifts. However, pet owners should consider and not object to the use of ‘alternate’ lifts, if there is more than one working lift in a building, which is conveniently accessible.
3) Access to society parks
While it is not mandatory to allow pets to use society gardens, lack of exercise can result in them exhibiting aggressive behaviour which is not healthy for a society. The AWBI suggests that RWA can take consensus from all residents of an acceptable time when the pets can be taken for a walk without causing disturbance to other residents. This can be declared in the general body meeting.
4) Use of leashes/muzzles by pet owners
Pet owners should leash their pets in all common areas. Leashing of dogs assures passers-by that they are safe. Leashing also ensures the safety of the pet from being run over by vehicles on streets or being the cause of accidents. However, no one can insist on using muzzles. Note that under the law, negligent pet owners will be penalised, which the aggrieved parties can avail themselves of.
5) Defecation by pets in community premises
Pet owners are advised to ‘scoop the poop’, or together with RWA and other residents be open to new solutions through consensus such as creation of pet defecation areas within community premises, not compromising hygiene of the entire resident community.
Note that presently there are no central or state laws that call for fines on pet owners for not cleaning up the soiled place. However, pet owning residents should be reasonable and accept requests in legal purview that help in peaceful community living.
6) Intimidation
Intimidating a pet owner into ‘giving up’ or ‘abandoning’ a pet will actually lead to a violation of law, and may well aggravate the menace of ownerless animals on the street, that are not accustomed to living on the street. It may also lead to accidents, injuries, and deaths. Please also bear in mind that intimidation is an offense in law.
Points to remember for pet owners
Although pet owners may consider their pets as companions or family members, since they live in a society, they should respect the feelings of non-pet owners too. Mentioned below are points that they should be aware of and take care of which will ensure cordial living in a housing society.
1) Pet license
The pet owners should apply for the pet license from the local municipal body in Maharashtra and submit it to the RWA while moving into the society.
2) Vaccination
All pet dogs in the society should be vaccinated and be treated for any health issue they have. A pet parent should submit the vaccination certificates from time to time to the housing society/RWA.
3) No nuisance to others
Pet owners should ensure that their pets are not creating nuisance for others. Pets should not be left unattended in any part of the housing society. However, note that in identifying this, pet owners should know that abandonment of a pet animal is unlawful.
4) Check on barking
Dogs express themselves through barking and these must be accepted by all housing societies. However, incessant barking can disturb neighbours. Pet owners should take efforts to ensure their dogs are quiet, especially during night when people retire for the day.
5) Disposing pet defecates
Pet owners, other caregivers or dog walkers they entrust their pets to, are advised to clean up when the pet defecates in public premises, or participate in other solutions for maintaining cleanliness. They should also discuss with RWAs on how to dispose of pet excreta. A housing society can explore the possibility of pet designated areas where pets can be trained and encouraged to relieve themselves. Pet poop can be collected and deposited and composted, using sawdust, etc. However, enforcing this is subject to various factors that the RWA should consider.
Points to remember for care-givers
Care-givers show their compassion by feeding street dogs and getting them vaccinated regularly.
1) Care-givers should not feed street dogs close to the residences.
2) They should avoid feeding street dogs immediately adjacent to areas in which children play, or people take walks, or that are otherwise crowded.
3) Feeding of stray dogs should not contribute to littering or dirtying the place. In case the place becomes dirty, it is the caregivers responsibility to clean up the area.
4) They should have data related to sterilisation and vaccination of the dogs accessible to share with the RWAs.
Housing.com POV
A housing society is made of both pet-owners and non-pet owners. People in a housing complex are expected to live in a civil way so that they don’t create nuisance for their neighbours. A pet policy in the housing societies in Maharashtra that ensures safety of the pets and at the same time protects the rights of people who do not have pets, basically balances the interests of both pet owners and non-pet owners and could help alleviate the tension within the community.
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