How to Legally Adopt a Dog in India?

The‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ initial procedure in a legal dog adoption in India is selecting a credible adoption center. You should get in touch with the following: NGOs that are recognized by the Animal Welfare Board of India, government animal shelters, or certified adoption camps. Reliable adoption organizations are PETA India, CUPA, Blue Cross of India, Friendicoes, and People For Animals, besides numerous city-based shelters. Thus, it avoids the problem of ill-bred dogs and guarantees that the dog has gone through a complete medical ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌check-up.

Once‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ choosing a shelter, you are going to be prompted to complete an adoption application. Normally, the application requests documents to prove identity and address, along with contact details, and it also seeks information about your home environment. It might have some questions related to your style of life, for instance, the number of people in your house, whether you have had dogs before, and if you live in a rented or an owned place. The information is needed by the shelter to figure out which dog is the most suitable for your family and to be sure of a good match for the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌future.

After‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ being approved, applicants undergo a screening process to guarantee that the dog will have a safe home. A representative might come to your place for a visit or check out your house through a video call. In this stage, the team also evaluates whether the housing is suitable, whether all the members of the family are in favor of a pet, and whether the person adopting the pet knows the obligations of a commitment for life. Such a screening procedure lowers the possibility of the pet being left again and makes sure that the dog will have a stable living ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌environment.


I‍‌‍‍‌‍n the adoption procedure, the signing of a formal adoption contract is required. This agreement usually entails pledges not to abandon, abuse, or sell the dog again. Besides that, it enumerates inevitable vaccinations, health check-ups at the vet, and sterilization to control the population of pets. The consent form is also there as an assurance that the shelter may call the visit to check the welfare of the dog if necessary. Thus, it is a document that legalizes the ownership of the dog by giving you an official adoption ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌card.


Being‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ a pet parent in India, you are bound to adhere to specific legal and moral obligations. It is a must that your pet undergoes professional veterinary care, and a yearly vaccination, such as that of anti-rabies, is compulsory. Several cities have made it mandatory to register your dog with the municipal corporation; thus, it is wise to ascertain the local regulations. As per Indian law, any person who abandons, abuses, or releases a dog in another place without the owner's consent is punishable under IPC Sections 428 & 429 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act; hence, being a caring owner is not only a moral but also a legal ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌requirement.


It‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ is a life changing experience when you legally adopt a dog in India; not only does it make your life richer, but also it saves a dog from a bleak future. When you select a certified shelter, finish the documentation in a proper manner, and provide care for the dog for the rest of his life, you make a homeless dog the lucky one with a new family and future. Adopting a pet is far more ethical, cheaper, and loving than getting one from a breeder, and adoption means that you are a very important part of the movement that is helping animal welfare all over the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌country.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How to adopt a dog in India?Find local animal shelters or NGOs like People for Animals or Blue Cross of India, complete an adoption application, and meet with the dogs to find the right match
2. What is the best age to adopt a dog?eight to ten weeks
3. What is the hardest dog to get adopted?Black dogs, senior dogs, bully breeds, and dogs with disabilities