If you are a pet owner in Punjab then you must read this

There is some news of interest for people of Punjab who are keeping a pet or planning to have one. You will now have to pay taxes for keeping domestic animals. 

This was announced on Tuesday by the Punjab government via a new notification. 

The Department of Local Administration, headed by state minister Navjot Singh Siddhu, issued a notice stating that people living in Punjab and having a dog, cat, pig, sheep, deer etc. as a domestic animals, will have to pay a tax of Rs 250 per year while those who own a buffalo, bull, camel, horse, cow, and elephant will have to pay Rs 500 per year.

It further stated that a branding code, a sort of identification mark or number would be allocated to each animal and the animal would also be installed with a microchip.

The owner will have to take a licence from the authorities to keep a pet which will be renewed every year.

The government has though extended its support to NGOs and other social religious organizations.

"The corporation committee shall extend all possible assistance and support to NGO's and other social-religious organizations interested in setting up of non-profit cattle pounds for old and infirm animals as per availability of funds," read the notification. 

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