Maharashtra coop dept directs housing societies to draft pet policy

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. “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.

However, there are others who are not bothered about fellow residents. “Some pet owners or dog walkers let their dogs roam unleashed in public areas, often saying, “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.

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.”

What prompted RWA rules for pets in Maharashtra?

While there have been conflicts of interests 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 of 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 safeguard the interests of non-pet owners, the Maharashtra state cooperatives department has instructed housing societies to frame a pet policy.

While the policy is intended to protect the rights of those without pets, it should be drafted in compliance with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) Guidelines, 2015. The policy should ensure that rights of pets and their owners are protected and the pet owner takes responsibility to not create problems for fellow neighbours. This article outlines 2015 guidelines concerning pets, street dogs, their caregivers, and the Resident Welfare Associations and Apartment Owners Associations.

Housing societies’ rules for pets: Key points

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 speaks.

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. 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 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 to them may result in them exhibit 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 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

It is an offense under law for any RWA to intimidate pet-owners to abandon or give up a pet.

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 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 in the society.

2)   Vaccination

All pet dogs in the society should be vaccinated and be treated for any health issue it has. 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 care-givers 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 care-givers 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 rights of people who do not have pets, basically balances the interests of both pet owners and non-pet owners could help alleviate the tension within the community.