Pets in housing societies: what the rules allow

AWBI is a statutory body set up under section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the 2015 document calls itself an advisory issued under section 9(k) of that Act. An advisory does not create new offences. What it does is tell associations how the law already applies to them.

The binding parts sit in the Act itself. Abandoning an animal "without reasonable cause" where it is likely to go hungry or thirsty is cruelty under section 11(1)(i), and the guidelines warn that an association which pressures an owner into giving up a pet "will actually have abetted violation of law". Section 3 puts a duty of care on every person in charge of an animal.

Cities have also adopted the guidelines. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's guidelines, signed by the Municipal Commissioner on 20 March 2025, say they are issued in line with AWBI's 2015 guidelines and repeat the ban on bans. Noida Authority's pet policy, in force from 12 December 2022, says RWAs and AOAs cannot impose any restriction or rule beyond the Authority's own policy.

Rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 says it is the responsibility of the RWA, AOA or local body's representative to arrange feeding of community animals in their premises, with feeding spots "far from children play areas, entry and exit points, staircase" and at times when children and senior citizens are least about. Where a society and feeders cannot agree, an Animal Welfare Committee chaired by the Chief Veterinary Officer decides the feeding point.

AWBI's letter of 17 July 2025 told RWAs and AOAs to put this into practice and to keep a register of community dogs with their sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination status. The Supreme Court's order of 22 August 2025 separately bars feeding stray dogs on the streets outside designated spots; the feeding rules page sets out what that means in a gated complex.

If a committee proposes a ban, a lift rule or a size limit, point it to AWBI's 2015 guidelines, which AWBI still lists, and in Mumbai to BMC's 2025 guidelines. Most disputes end once the committee sees the text. Keep your side clean: a leashed, vaccinated, licensed dog whose owner clears up is hard to object to.

Before you buy or rent, read the society's bye-laws and ask about pet rules. BMC's guidelines advise owners to check bye-laws before moving in, and a landlord's own terms are a separate matter from the society's.

If pressure continues, AWBI's own case list shows it writes to parties on complaints such as "Society not allowed pet dogs", citing the 2015 circular. Complaints can be lodged through AWBI's website.

AWBI's guidelines name "the other care-givers or dog walkers" that owners entrust their pets to when they ask for clean-ups in public premises, and BMC's 2025 guidelines say owners, care-givers or dog walkers must clean up. A sitter walking a client's dog through a society carries the same leash and poop bag as the owner.

For sitters who host pets in their own flat, Petym asks for the housing society's permission for paid pet sitting before listing. The guidelines protect residents keeping their own pets as companions; they do not settle whether a resident may run paid boarding at home, so the society's written permission matters.

During an owner's trip, the sitter is often the person a guard or committee member meets. Carrying a copy of the dog's licence and vaccination record, and the owner's phone number, answers most questions at the gate.