These rules have evoked a mixed response from residents.

'We are sensible enough to get our dogs vaccinated properly at the right time. So what is the use of getting it registered with the administration? It will only increase the work of already burdened government offices of the city,' said Sanjeev Sharma, a local businessman, who owns three dogs and two cats.

'I also believe that it would also lead to more corruption, as many unscrupulous elements will take it as an opportunity to make extra money by unnecessarily harassing dog owners,' Sharma said.

Smridhi Bhalla, another dog lover, told IANS: 'The decision to limit the number of domestic dogs to two is beyond our understanding. It is quite strange that instead of keeping a tab on stray dogs, they are more worried about pet dogs that are not harming anybody.'

However, Jayant Sharma, president of a residents' welfare association in Chandigarh, told IANS: 'Domestic dogs have emerged as a big threat for morning and evening walkers as most of the times they are more dangerous than stray dogs. We are happy with these new by-laws and now want our administration to implement them strictly.'

Rohit Ruhella, an environmentalist based here, said: 'People consider dogs their status symbol and even take them to various gardens and the Sukhna lake. They do not bother when these animals destroy the beauty of these places.'

According to the records of the animal husbandry department, in 2007 there were 13,425 dogs in the city, including 7,712 domestic dogs and 5,713 strays. Of them, 9,034 were male and 4,391 female.

(Alkesh Sharma can be contacted at alkesh.s@ians.in)