BBMP proposes SAWB to check illegal breeding of dogs

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has proposed the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Department to set up a State Animal Welfare Board (SAWB) in the state to check unauthorised breeding of dogs.

N Manjunath Prasad, BBMP Commissioner, has written a letter to UP Singh, Commissioner, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, in this regard during the last week.

“Due to lack of appropriate care, pups from mass commercial breeders are often diseased, weak, and generally unhealthy, resulting in heavy mortality….pet shops are opened without trade permits and do not keep pets under the prescribed norms, resulting in cruelty to animals,” the commissioner stated.

Interestingly, the letter mentions that even though the Supreme Court itself has mandated to set up SWABs, the non-implementation of the SAWB has curtailed the efforts of the civic body in regulating the increasing illegal activities of dog breeders and pet shop owners.

Randeep D, additional commissioner (admin), BBMP said: “Even though it is not the Palike that manages everything about pets, we have been receiving complaints regarding illegal breeding conducted on house terraces, and hear about forced activities. Constituting the SAWB will bring in regulation and helps us to curb such activities.”

He also said if it was constituted, then the civic body would have the authority to regulate the pet owners or breeders and ask them whether they have obtained the SAWB’s permission or not.

“Once they get the permission, we can issue trade license or carry on with the further processes,” said Randeep.

He said there are two important legislations which the civic body and the state need to follow: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog breeding and marketing) rules 2017 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet shop) rules 2018.

The civic body has taken up the issue after The CJ Memorial Trust had approached it to constitute the board.