Dog ownership rules had outraged pet owners

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s decision to restrict dog ownership had triggered outrage among animal lovers and pet owners, who dread the idea of abandoning pets to avoid penalty.

The NGO, People For Animals (PFA), had said it would move the court to block the BBMP’s new regulations on pet ownership.

“They’ve ignored the stray dogs spreading diseases and their birth control. In fact, they’ve failed to address the issue,” complained Dr Colonel Navaz Shariff, a veterinary officer with the PFA. “Instead of making life difficult for caregivers of animals, the government should focus on the stray menace.”

Sudha Narayanan, the founder trustee of Charlie’s Animal Rescue Center (CARE), termed the regulation to restrict the number of dogs regressive. “Animal welfare organisations met the mayor and the joint commissioner on Wednesday. All of us are hoping they don’t go ahead with the rule,” she added.

Welcoming the pet licensing scheme to monitor the canines with a microchip, she noted that the BBMP should be ready to create and maintain a huge database.

Psychotherapist and animal activist Usha Madan wondered if the BBMP had thought through the scheme.

“This’ll burden animal shelters that would get crowded overnight and there wouldn’t be any space for animals
that actually need shelter,” she said.

Debadrita Jadhav, the founder of Precious Paws Foundation, said pet ownership was a personal choice and the government had no right to intervene.

“The BBMP’s idea to embed the microchip on the dog collars may not work because most dogs chew on the collar,” she observed.