Bringing home a pet? Be ware of the many rules vis a vis pets that you must know before getting into trouble with the law. While some, like vaccinations and chips have existed since time immemorial, there are other laws which can raise a few eyebrows.

Take the latest suggestion where in a bid to ensure that pet dogs do not pose any inconvenience in the locality, the city corporation authorities are planning to introduce a system wherein non-objection certificate (NOC) from neighbours will be made mandatory for owners to keep dogs. The reasoning behind this suggestion - since houses are built so close to each other in city limits, obtaining permission from neighbours is required for the greater good!.

We asked our students and the reactions we got were a mixed bag. 

Student Speak 

Sanjeev Kumar founder of Scoopy Scrub feels with apartment complexes becoming the norm and more and more activists and residents actively engaging in taking care of their pets and stray dogs, it becomes important for people to understand their duties, rights and responsibilities. This is essential for the welfare of their pets and their neighbours as well. 

Here are a few rules that you must keep in mind if you are living with your pet in your apartment complex: 

1. Pet owners can consider their pets as family members but they have to ensure their pets don't cause inconvenience to others. 

2. No Resident Welfare Association has the right to ban residents from keeping pets in their apartments, not even by getting a majority vote in the society with the help of other tenants or residents. Doing so is a violation of the law. 

3. Barking, which is a natural form of expression of a dog, has to be tolerated in a society. Pet owners must make an effort to keep their dogs quiet, especially during night hours.

4. If pet owners abide by the municipal laws regarding pets then no civic body has the right to ban the pets or their owners from the society.

5. No pets can be banned from lifts. No ban or special charges can be imposed on pet owners for using lifts with their pets.

6. Leashing the dog is advisable (but not compulsory) when the dog is taken out for walks. It will make the people around feel safe. Leashing also ensures the safety of the pet from being run over by vehicles.

7. Even if Residents' Welfare Association cannot impose fines on any pet owner who do not clean their pet's excreta, they can request pet owners to clean up after their dogs defecate for society’s cleanliness. 

The rules are different if you are relocating with your pet from another country. 

Pet Relocation Rules in India 

1) Microchip:  Each Pet shall be identified by means of a microchip.  No other form of identification is acceptable. The microchip used should comply with ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785- otherwise the pet will need to be sent with it’s own scanner attached to the top of the crate.

2) Rabies Vaccination & Certificate: All pets must have an original Rabies Certificate and this certificate must state the microchip number, the date of inoculation and the validity of the particular vaccination you obtain – some are good for two years, others are only good for one.  This vaccine must be an inactivated vaccine.

3) Vet Health Certificate (Form 7001)– This is the standard Health Certificate to be filled out by your USDA accredited Veterinarian.   Must be issued within 10 days of the flight.  Health Certificate must state that the pet has no clinical signs of Aujossky’s disease, Distemper, Rabies, Leishmaoiasis, Leptospirosis and Tuberculosis.

4) Annexure I (Dogs) or II (Cats) Certificate:  Issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian within 10 days of flight.  PetRelocation will provide this form to its customers or you may download it here:

5) USDA Endorsement:  The above referenced forms:

Microchip Implantation Record

Rabies Certificate

Vet Health Certificate (Form 7001 & Annexure I/II)

6) No Objection Certificate ("NOC"):  The No Objection Certificate is a temporary permit issued in India allowing pets to be brought into the country.  PetRelocation will obtain this on your behalf.  For more information on the No Objection Certificate please see our PetRelocation blog post.

Different places in the world have a different rule governing pets. Here is a list.

For traveling within the EU and from certain other approved countries into the UK dogs and cats can travel as part of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). To qualify for travel between EU countries and return to the UK, the pet must have met the following criteria in the order shown:

1) The pet must microchipped

2) Vaccinated against rabies (and kept fully up to date with boosters)

3) Have a pet passport issued by your veterinary surgeon

4) Have at least a 3 week interval to have elapsed from the date of initial rabies vaccination before travel

5) Certain other basic conditions also need to be met, since for example travel must be via an approved route with an approved carrier

Pet travel into the UK prior to 2012 required dogs and cats to pass a blood test assessing the response to rabies vaccination. In addition a tick treatment had to be applied 24-48 hours prior to return.