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Bengaluru may be known for its unquestioning acceptance of people from all parts of the country. But it is not as welcoming of man’s best friend.
The thriving technopolis, where outsiders constitute 70 per cent of the population, recently passed by-laws that restrict pet ownership to one dog per apartment and three dogs per independent house. Other popular pets — like cats, guinea pigs, turtles, hamsters and fish — have been exempted from this ban, though.
The city’s municipal corporation, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has approved 64 breeds, which leaves out the Indian street mongrel and others like cocker spaniels, golden retrievers, beagles and boxers, but approves of rare breeds like Bolognese, Chinese temple dog, Affenpinscher or Coton de Tulear. Also, breeds such as German shepherds and Rottweilers are required to wear muzzles in public. Dog lovers, NGOs and animal welfare organisations are up in arms against the “draconian, irrational by-laws.” What’s required, they point out, are well thought out rules — formed with inputs from all stakeholders — that encourage a responsible, pet-loving society.
Greater issues
“BBMP has not been able to control the stray dog population in the city with its animal birth control (ABC) and vaccination programme. Instead of focussing on major civic issues like garbage disposal, overflowing drains and arresting the use of plastic, for which we have paid our taxes, they decide to pick on helpless dogs,” said Anil Karumbaya, who not only owns three dogs, but has also rescued and sheltered dozens of them over the past three decades.
What started off as an attempt to curb illegal puppy mills and backyard breeders now seems to pay scant attention to the issue.
Sanjana Madappa, who owns several dogs and runs the CUPA Second Chance Adoption Centre, said the BBMP’s move seems to be in response to complaints from residents welfare associations who are typically wary of dogs.
Dangerous precedent
Pointing out that these by-laws are setting dangerous precedents, Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, founder of The Cubbon Park Canines, which has a 10,688-strong online community, said: “Why is BBMP punishing responsible pet owners instead of illegal backyard breeders? This law has already taken a toll on the hapless dogs, with some owners abandoning them on national highways and others packing off their dogs to animal shelters and rescues.”
Not only are the rules illegal, unconstitutional and extremely vague, but they also bear no nexus to the object sought to be achieved and clearly violate fundamental rights, especially the right to life of both citizens and animals, said a lawyer who has gone through the document thoroughly.
CUPA has filed a stay order against the by-law while many individuals have filed PILs and the city’s dog lovers have started an online signature campaign, #NotWithoutMyDogs, which has received 25,000 signatures in six days.
Responding to the protests, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara tweeted: “Pet parents, we are listening! We will look into the issues raised by you and take into consideration your ideas and suggestions. Thank you for engaging with BBMP and keep sending us your views.”
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