In order to keep an eye on the illegal breeding and unauthorized pet shops in Bangalore, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) is planning to check on it.
The business of pet shop owners has a profitable ground as Bengaluru has a bulk of pet lovers. Poor maintenance of the shops and pets from commercial breeders invite disease, weak and unhealthy pets. If pets die, due to these problems, owners face problems as they become a part of their family.
BBMP has asked the Animal Husbandry Department to create an ‘Animal Welfare State Board’ and regulate the norms to curb the unauthorized pet shops across the city. Due to negligence, BBMP is undergoing revenue loss.
Section 38 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 lists a set of norms on licenses and registrations of pet shops. Precautions should be taken by the pet shop owner to avoid untimely death and spreading of diseases. Adequate water and food should be given to raising a particular breed.
Section 3 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules of 2016 states, ‘’registration certificate should be obtained by the pet shop owner and has to be displayed in the shop’’. With a non-refundable fee of Rs. 5,000 per license that can be obtained with a validity of two years. Registration should be renewed one month before it’s expiry with a fee of Rs. 1,000.
Maheshwara Gowda, Additional Director of Animal Husbandry said, ’’from the past year the process of forming Animal State Welfare Board is going on. Before that nothing was monitored from any of the Department and BBMP is the only authority to give the license but they are not giving any’’.
‘’ Now BBMP is going through revenue loss which turned them to form this board and regulate it. Minister of animal husbandry will be the chairman of the State Animal Welfare Board after it will be formed.
After formation of the board, the pet shop owners have to register and BBMP will provide a license to them. Now BBMP is going through revenue loss which turned them to form this board and regulate it.
“Zero Grave”, a pet shop in Wilson Garden area where the dogs are sold and kept in nearly 10 by 30 feet area. They have Labrador, Golden Retriever and other breeds of dogs bought from Mysore. “Before buying the pets they go through medical checkups and get medical checkups regularly. Their diet is decided by a veterinary doctor. Pet shops don’t have license certificate to display and shopkeeper claims that after giving license none of the BBMP officials come here for any inspection”, said shopkeeper.
A customer in a shop said, “Till now he didn’t face serious health problem. But dogs of good breed do need lots of care. They need a proper diet and clean space to live. Some pets suffer from diseases which causes their death. If they are provided good care from an early stage, they don’t suffer from these problems”.
