Chandigarh, June 4 -- Looking to tighten the leash on irresponsible pet ownership, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation on Tuesday approved the final draft of the Pet and Community Dogs Bylaws, 2025, during the House meeting. The new rules will replace the decade-old 2010 bylaws. The final approval rests with the Chandigarh administration and once the bylaws are notified, fines for violations could shoot up by as much as 200 times. The bylaws place clear liability on pet owners for bites or damage to property. They bar pet dogs from high-footfall public green spaces, such as Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden, Rose Garden and Leisure Valley. However, regular parks will remain accessible to pets - provided owners carry poop bags and clean up after their dogs. Defecation anywhere in public will be prohibited - owners must either clean up after their pets or guide them to isolated spots. To ensure public safety, the draft mandates that all dogs be leashed in public and aggressive breeds must be muzzled. Escorts of ferocious breeds must carry a stick, and in case of severe aggression or damage, dogs may be seized and penalties imposed. In a move to prevent public health hazards, owners will no longer be allowed to dispose of deceased pets in garbage bins. Cremation or private burial will be mandatory. The draft also proposes a complete ban on commercial breeding or trading of dogs within city limits. Prepared with input from the MC joint commissioner-1, medical officer of health and other civic officials, the draft aims to strike a balance between animal welfare and public safety. The MC House deferred the agenda on the proposed increase in booking charges of community centres. The House decided that a survey will first be conducted to check the facilities in various community centres before the agenda is tabled again in the next House meeting. >>more House decisions on P2...