Feeding street dogs: Punishable offence if stopped

Institutions should allow dogs and cats in apartments: Guidelines

Feeding street dogs: Punishable offence if stopped

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Feeding street dogs in designated areas cannot be prohibited or opposed. Facilities for pets should be provided in apartments. Beating or torturing community animals will result in fines or imprisonment.

The BBMP, which has decided to strictly implement the ‘Community Animals’ Act, is ready to register cases against those who do not follow the guidelines from January 15.

The BBMP has framed the rules in accordance with the above Prevention of Cruelty Act-1960, Animal Birth Control Rules-2023 and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) rules and orders of the Supreme Court and High Courts. Those who violate this will be punished with imprisonment from three months to five years.

Animals and birds need food, shelter, medicine, and safe places, and they must be provided. Animals also have five freedoms. The guidelines explain that animals are free from thirst, hunger, malnutrition; free from discomfort; free from pain, injury, disease; free from fear, distress; and free from normal behavior.

For those who feed stray dogs:

• You should start feeding stray dogs only if you are financially and physically able to feed them every day.
• You should not feed stray dogs from 11.30 pm to 5 am. You should not go to feed stray dogs in remote areas, including bushes.
• Do not put food in front of someone else's house, property, or parking area. Use reusable plates to feed them.
• Do not leave food left by stray dogs there and clean it up. Do not put food in areas where many citizens walk.
• Permission should be obtained before feeding stray dogs in the area of ​​educational institutions, tech parks or any associations.

For residents' associations, apartment owners' associations:

• No rule against or prohibiting keeping pets should be made in the by-laws of associations
• Pets should be allowed in places used by everyone. Pets should be allowed to be carried in lifts with a belt.
• Dogs barking like humans talk is an emotional process. Pet owners should not be forced to stop it.
• Associations should set aside separate morning and evening times for pets to walk and play for their necessary exercise.
• Pets should not be kept in any kind of cage. Pets should not be required to wear muzzles.

For pet owners:

• Dog owners should ensure that there is plenty of space for their dogs at home. The residents' association should be informed about the number of dogs.
• The pet dog should be vaccinated and the house, balcony and terrace should always be kept clean in a way that does not cause any problem to the neighbors.
• A clean and suitable bed should be provided to the pet dog. The pet dog should not be left in any unfenced area.
• People under the age of 18 should not take the pet dog for a walk. The pet dog should be trained in good behavior.
• If the pet dog defecates on the road or sidewalk, the owner should clean it up without causing any inconvenience to others.

For educational institutions, tech parks and public institutions:

• Community animals can be vaccinated and fed. However, they cannot be moved from their original place.
• Institutions should take steps to ensure that community animals have access to food and clean water. They should be housed in an area where students do not roam.
• A separate place should be allocated in discussion with the municipality for students, staff or citizens to feed community animals.
• It is illegal to chase away stray dogs, hit them with stones or sticks. Security personnel should be trained in the management of stray dogs.
• Necessary signs should be put up to alert the public about community animals when they are present on the premises of institutions.

What is the punishment?

If a community animal is killed, a fine of up to ₹75,000 and imprisonment for three to five years

If an animal is fatally attacked, a fine of ₹50,000 and imprisonment for one to three years.

If an animal is attacked in any way, a fine of up to ₹1,000 and imprisonment for two years.

If any rules are violated under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, a fine of ₹50 and imprisonment for three months.

License to keep dogs?

‘There is a plan to issue a license for keeping dogs within the BBMP limits. A letter has been sent to the Urban Development Department to give a clear indication of the steps to be taken in this regard. Action will be taken after receiving information from there,’ Suralkar Vikas Kishore, Special Commissioner of Animal Husbandry, told.

‘The guidelines have been given on how to take care of pet dogs. But no decision has been made regarding the permission to keep them and their census. Even though the census of stray dogs has been conducted, it is not final. It could be more or less than 20 percent, he said.

Zone; Number of stray dogs

East; 37,685

West; 22,025

South; 23,241

Dasarahalli; 21,221

R.R. Nagar; 41,266

Bommanahalli; 39,183

Yelahanka; 36,343

Mahadevapura; 58,371

Total Street Dogs; 2,79,335

Male; 1,65,341

Female; 82,757

Gender unknown; 31,237