Ranchi: A housing society in Morabadi has circulated a notice among its 80-odd residents asking them to cough up an extra Rs 1,000 every month for keeping pets.

The decision, imposed since Friday, is being deplored by pet owners and also animal activists here as unwarranted discrimination while the housing society has admitted it is meant to discourage people from owning pets.

Arun Kumar Singh, secretary of Sree Baijnath Residency Flat Owners' Association, said the notice was served after serious deliberation. "Some residents have raised objections to others keeping pets, most of whom are not trained properly. So, we want to discourage people from owning pets," he said.

Among the 80 flats on the premises, six owners are said to have pets - all dogs, mostly well-bred like labrador, spitz and pomeranian.

"The penalty decision on pets is bizarre, especially when there are other issues plaguing the society like defunct CCTV cameras, inadequate firefighting measures and chronic spitting. Our dogs are toilet trained," argued a pet owner, not willing to be named.

Renu Debuka, a resident of Ashok Nagar, recalled that a year ago, her housing society had faced a similar situation and the case almost went to court.

"We spoke to animal rights activists and lawyers and planned to challenge the decision legally. That is when the society suddenly called truce," said Debuka, a chartered accountant. "It is okay to have restrictions, but imposing what seems like penalty is ridiculous," she added.

Saket Singh, a banker who now lives in Hinoo, said three months ago, they had to shift home over similar "highhandedness" at their apartment complex in Lalpur.

According to Gauri Maulekhi, a member of Animal Welfare Board of India, any person who has rented or purchased a flat without a no-pet precondition is entitled to keep pet/s.

"Such tughlaki (whimsical) decisions should be challenged legally. Neither the consumer court nor the Supreme Court allows such discrimination," she said, but added, "If your pet bites someone and you don't do anything, then that is a violation that can invite action. Otherwise, no housing society can change even bylaws to ban pets or impose fines."

Murugan Appupalli, country director (education), Mission Rabies, said all pets should be vaccinated (as needed), kept clean and registered with municipal bodies (if there is such a provision). "If these basic rules are followed, no housing society can impose any kind of restriction on owning pets," he echoed Maulekhi.

Last year, the RMC had made registration of pet dogs mandatory in lieu of Rs 100, but the rule was never enforced in letter and spirit. "The project was caught in a tender jinx after the first NGO left. A fresh tender file has been moved. We hope to relaunch the project soon," said corporation health officer Kiran Kumari.

Asked if the RMC had bylaws that empowered housing societies to introduce penalty provisions for having pets, the officer said she wasn't aware of any such rule.

Should trained pets be allowed in housing complexes? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com