Representational Image.
The district deputy registrar (DDR) of cooperative societies in Pune sent out a letter earlier this week detailing the guidelines for pet owners and cooperative housing societies in the city. The situation arises after the finding of 300 cats in an apartment within a residential society in Hadapsar last week.The guidelines seek to prevent animal cruelty and reduce disturbances to other housing society members, following the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) concerning dogs, pets, and strays.
The guidelines state that individuals must show compassion towards all living beings according to Article 51(g) of the Constitution, and that pet owners rightly view their pets as family. “The guidelines indicate that a pet resembles a constant toddler and thus merits the same level of attention during its lifetime as is given to a human toddler in its early years.” “However, the pet owner is responsible for making sure that pets do not cause inconvenience to others,” they state.
Barking is a natural form for dog to communicate, and it must be accepted in our society. Nonetheless, continuous barking can annoy neighbours. Therefore, it is recommended that pet owners do everything possible to keep their dogs quiet, especially during nighttime hours,” the guidelines add. The regulations further state that housing societies cannot lawfully prohibit the ownership of pet dogs, asserting that such an action would be unlawful.
The recommendations urge pet owners to pick up after their pets, keep their dogs on leashes, and make sure their pets do not create disturbances
