Indian Govt to bring Indian Owners to Heel!

New Delhi: The Environment and Forest Ministry, after consultation with animal activist and Member of Parliament, Maneka Gandhi, has proposed these and other strict regulations for pet owners, besides setting up an array of rules to ensure the comfort of domestic animals. Under the proposals, pet owners will have to register the birth and death of their pets, as well as, provide a veterinarian’s statement certifying the cause of death. Pet shop owners must maintain ambient temperatures, at 25-30 degrees Celsius and humidity below 50 percent in order to keep their livestock comfortable. Furthermore, the rules prohibit pet shops from being located near butcher shops and also require labelling of the health of animals or birds on sale.

If it’s a pedigreed dog you want to keep, be prepared to be screened by the breeder or seller regarding your potential ability to take care of the animal, especially if it’s a large breed. Further, the rules, to be implemented jointly by the local municipal bodies and the Animal Welfare Board of India, stipulate that pets should be housed in a safe building with fire safety equipment and an evacuation plan. The house must be located away from sound, dust and air pollution. Adequate ventilation, light and water must be provided for comfortable habitation of the pet.

The Environment and Forest Ministry is also separately finalising dog breeding and marketing rules to ensure healthy and wellbred dogs in India.

Breeders will have to ensure that their dogs live in a healthy, dust free environment, have adequate supply of suitable food, water and bedding material, and are regularly exercised, etc. No bitch is to produce litters in two consecutive breeding seasons and should not be made to give birth to more than four litters during its lifespan or after eight years. The veterinarian will also have to certify if the bitch is mature enough to mate. A stud dog may only be allowed to mate after a licensed veterinarian has deemed it healthy to do so. Breeders will have to maintain health records of all adult dogs, along with coherent and systematic daily observation records.

Also, in the new draft rules for pet shops, the Environment Ministry has made licensing for each species of pet mandatory and allowed sale of only sterilised pets, except where a veterinarian allows. Government officials will have the right to inspect pets at regular intervals. “The license will be valid only for 12 months,” the rules state. However, the pet owner will be able to obtain the license directly from the local authorities or with the help of the pet shop owner from whom they buy their pets.

While it’s not known how strictly these regulations will be implemented, the rules are meant to herald a substantial change in the living standards of animals in pet shops, homes and breeding farms in India, as violators can be booked for cruelty to animals.