With local bodies in Kerala moving to a stricter pet licensing policy, many animal rescuers and shelter home operators who have been taking care of abandoned and sick dogs are facing a crisis. The revised annual licensing fee is a major concern for those running such small facilities with a large number of dogs at their homes or rented spaces.
“The increasing cost of medicine and food for the sheltered dogs alone is a huge responsibility for the caretakers. I have 14 such dogs in my custody and I will have to struggle a lot to secure the licence fee of ₹500 for each and its annual renewal,” says Samson Samuel, a well-known pet rescuer in the northern Kerala region. Mr. Samuel, hailing from Kannur district, says the new law, introduced without considering the challenges of voluntary caretakers, will gradually lead to the closure of many local rescue shelters.
The members of various voluntary rescue service groups in Kozhikode district say there are no rehabilitation shelters controlled by the local administration that provide satisfactory service. The work is mostly done by six smaller income groups of animal lovers in the city, they add.
The main demand of the voluntary rescue teams is the introduction of a separate licensing policy for them without a hefty fee. According to them, the rescue teams mostly deal with animals suffering from various ailments, injuries and trauma. A rigid approach in the name of enforcing rules for commercial players in the field will affect the spirit of a large number of genuine operators who run pillar to post to meet various expenses, they add.
“There has been a spurt in the sale of many costly dog breeds since the lockdown period, but many are now abandoning the animals, claiming various inconveniences. Only the rescue volunteers are there to attend to such issues,” says E.M. Rajeev, a dog trainer-cum-rescuer who has been active in the field for over 30 years. Mr. Rajeev, who is also chairman of the city-based Petlife Charitable Trust that takes care of animals in need of critical support, says those offering selfless service in the field should be extended better financial support and legal protection.
