(IN): Pet inspectors may check on animals

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http://www.livemint.com/2010/05/07234239/Pet-inspectors-may-check-on-an.html?h=B

 

<http://www.livemint.com/2010/05/07234239/Pet-inspectors-may-check-on-an.html?h=\

B>Pet

inspectors may check on animals

 

*Gandhi said the number of pet shops have increased over the past six years,

putting them at more than 100,000 in just the metros*

 

Padmaparna Ghosh

 

New Delhi: Do you have a pet? You could soon have a pet inspector knocking

at your door checking on its well-being, according to the terms of the draft

Pet Shop Rules, 2010.

 

The rules, published by the environment ministry on Friday and have a 30-day

objection period, also stipulate that every pet shop owner and pet buyer

will need to get a licence from the concerned municipal authorities that

needs to be renewed annually.

 

“I am really glad that these rules are being brought in. There is an entire

uncovered section in the Indian trade, which has grown by hundreds of crores

in the last 10 years. It has remained unregulated and (the country) is now a

major smuggling centre,” said Maneka Gandhi, a lawmaker belonging to the

main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and a well-known animal rights

activist.

 

The rules, mainly meant for pet shops, also mandate infrastructure, housing

and handling rules. The norms are meant to regulate operational standards

for pet stores regarding sanitation, ventilation, heating, cooling,

humidity, special and enclosure requirements, nutrition and medical

treatment, besides providing grounds for action against those who break the

rules.

 

Gandhi said the number of pet shops have increased over the past six years,

putting them at more than 100,000 in just the metros.

 

Ambika Shukla, director, People for Animals, an animal protection

non-governmental organization, said “These rules have been in the pipeline

for a very long time. Pet shops are mushrooming everywhere and there are no

rules on who can sell, with what expertise. Animals are not products.”

 

The pet business is thriving, say shop owners.

 

“Most families nowadays are single-child ones, so they want a companion for

their kids. Every lane in Delhi today will have a household dog breeder.

There are more than 100-150 breeders in east Delhi itself,” said Karan

Gupta, owner of Pet Club India, a networking platform for pet shops,

breeders, buyers and veterinarians.

 

Even though there are certain regulations governing pet shops, they are

hardly followed, said a store owner who did not want to be identified.

 

Many shops start by selling pet products, which have wide profit margins,

and then start selling pups.

 

Besides the pet shop rules, the ministry has also circulated draft Dog

Breeding and Sales Rules for discussion. These stipulate the licensing and

management of professional breeders. Gandhi said the two need to be notified

together as they are closely linked.

 

*padmaparna.g*

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