Ban Removed From Pet Dogs Entering Public Parks In India

Following a Delhi high court order, the Animal Welfare Board of India has issued a directive, lifting ban on the entry of pet dogs in parks all across India.

Most of the pet-lovers welcomed the HC order and have started adopting the guidelines issued by AWBI. They feel that pet dogs should get the freedom to roam alongside their owners in the parks. However, there is also a section of people who go on morning and evening walks, feel threatened on the idea of pet dogs roaming in the public parks.

AWBI directive

“The number of people keeping dogs as pets is increasing every year. Most dog-owners live in apartments where there is no private space to exercise their dogs. The entry of dogs into parks and being exercised in them will not be restricted, if the dogs are duly leashed and are walked by adults,” said the order.

People all across India have started following the directive issued by the AWBI. In March, Chandigarh removed the ban and allowed pet dogs in Public parks.

Read here:  Pet Dogs Now Allowed In Public Parks In Chandigarh

Now Kolkata has implemented the directive

Bonani Kakka, Environment and animal rights activist said, “We, on behalf of the NGO Public, have written to the KMC and KMDA to ensure that the order is followed. All pets have the right to enter parks under the supervision of their owners. This will not endanger the security of other visitors. If they are barred in parks, pets will find it difficult to survive in the restrictive confines of apartments where they mostly live.”

Lawyer and animal rights activist Meghna Banerjee agreed.

 “Entry of pets into parks has been a contentious issue over the last few years. Morning-walkers, especially, have been agitated about it. But the fact remains that pets do no harm to anybody visiting parks.”

The order is binding on all authorities across the country, pointed out Bonani Ghosh, another animal rights activist.

“The Animal Welfare Board is a statutory body so its order applies to the entire country. It is a very appropriate direction. Dogs are people’s companions. If they can’t be taken for walks freely in parks then none will be able to have pets. More importantly, most of Kolkata’s parks are used for anti-social activities. They are littered and ill-maintained. Then why can’t they be thrown open to dogs and other pets?”

Here are the AWBI guidelines

[pdfviewer]https://www.dogexpress.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/guidelines_petdogs_parks.pdf[/pdfviewer]

Reference: The Times Of India

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