Bengaluru: Apart from regulating dog breeds in apartments, the BBMP’s guidelines include mandatory licensing, separate licence for breeding if not sterilisation of pet dogs and penalty for owners who don’t clean up after their pets in public spaces.
The guidelines are yet to be promulgated by the government. Meanwhile, animal activists say that the civic body is ignoring the main problem.
The focus needs to be on breeders, as many are trading in breeds that are not suited for Bengaluru. What’s more, the city has emerged as a hotspot for illegal breeding of dogs.
In 2016, the Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) came out with a report after investigating 15 illegal breeding centres spread across the city. The report furnished evidence of breeding centres operating out of terraces in residential areas and small cramped rooms in busy markets. Puppies are bred in inhumane conditions and sold on popular e-commerce sites.
“First, the BBMP needs to restrict inhumane breeding. None of the breeders have licences to operate. Officials must issue licences only to those operating as per mandated conditions,” said R. Shantha Kumar, animal welfare officer, Animal Welfare Board of India.
N. Jayasimha, managing director, Humane Society International, welcomed mandatory sterilisation of pet dogs, unless the owner obtains a breeder licence. “We have come across many instances where owners allow their pet to breed and discard the puppies as they can’t take care of them.”
