Kautilya's Arthashastra 4.3.22

4.3.22

teṣāṃ grahaṇahiṃsāyāṃ dvādaśapaṇo daṇḍaḥ, śunām anigrahe cānyatrāraṇyacarebhyaḥ //

To ward off the danger from rats, cats and mongooses may be let loose. Destruction of rats that have been caught shall be punished with a fine of 12 panas. The same punishment shall be meted out to those who, with the exception of wild tribes, do not hold their dogs in check.