KEEPING DOGS IN INDIA TAXING, LITERALLY 

Dog owners now have another tax to add to their ‘Taxes to Pay’ list. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which had previously nodded its approval on the removal of dog tax in its budget estimate for the year 2009-10, is now rethinking its decision. When asked why the MCD had had this change of heart, it was stated that the waiving of dog tax would require amendments in the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, a tedious process for a small issue like dog tax. The civic body also reasoned that the dog tax was a pre-requisite for registration of pet dogs and that the sum was minimal, something anyone could afford.

“The dog tax can’t be waived off until the Parliament amends the DMC Act on the request of the MCD. The MCD will take a decision in this regard and then propose the amendment,” says Dr. R.B.S. Tyagi, Director, Veterinary Services, MCD. “We are not targeting only dog owners and certainly don’t want to discourage dog adoptions. We like the fact that people have dogs, but they must understand that under Section 136 of the Delhi Municipal Act, 1957, there is a provision for tax on animals, and that also includes dogs. The dog tax is like any other tax, so why the hue and cry," he adds?

At present, an amount of Rs 20, including Rs 15 for a dog token and Rs 5 for dog tax is being levied on pet dog owners.