Relief for pet owners, AWBI releases guidelines for pet care during lockdown
Anvita Srivastava
Pune, June 6, 2020: After receiving several complaints from various organisations and pet owners, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has written to the Chief Secretaries of all the States and issued guidelines to allow pet owners to take their pets outside for nature’s calls and walks/exercises during COVID19 lockdown.
AWBI chairman Dr OP Chaudhary in his letter dated 1st June stated, “AWBI is receiving a number of representations from various organizations and pet owners informing that the local administration is not allowing the pets to go outside for nature’s call/exercise/ walk etc. During the COVID-19 lockdown, this situation has further aggravated and the local administration / RWAs are hindering the pet owner to come out from the home for nature’s call.
In this regard, it is clarified that stopping pet animals and other animals for nature’s call and exercise is a part of the offence as the accumulation of body excretion in the body creates physiological changes and toxicity in the animal body. This may lead to a change of normal behaviour of animals and even the animal may die. Further, keeping these animals in the home without exercise also creates metabolic disturbances in the animal body like a human being. Hence, animal owners need to take their animal out from their home.
It is further clarified that cruelty to animals in this kind is an offence under Section. 3, Section 11 (1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and other Rules made thereunder. Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has upheld the five freedoms of animals in SLP(C) 11686 of 2007 in the matter of Animal Welfare Board of India vs. A. Nagaraja and Others and directed all the State Governments to take proactive steps to prevent unnecessary pain and sufferings to animals. Therefore, it is also a violation of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
The Board vide its letter dated 11.03.2020, 24.03.2020 and 25.04.2020 issued advisories to take steps for the welfare of animals including allowing of pet animals for nature calls (urinate/defecate) and exercise, it is the responsibility of District Authorities and other local bodies to ensure the same and take appropriate action if anyone stops the pet owner to carry out such things.
It is further clarified that most of the pet animals kept by people have small bladders and their bodies are not designed to hold urine and poop for an unnecessarily long period of time. The pet animals although domesticated still need minimum physical activities such as walk to keep them in good health physically as well as mentally. Also, keeping animals constrained, not letting him go on a walk or for exercise is an offence of cruelty under Section 11(1)(g) “being the owner, neglects to exercise or cause to be exercised reasonably any dog habitually chained up or kept in close confinement”.
In view of the above, it is requested to kindly direct the local administration to create at least 3-time slots of 20 minutes each in all the zones during which pet owners can take their animals out to urinate or defecate and for walk/exercise provided they adhere to the “Board’s Guideline for pet owners and caregivers to be followed during this period of COVID-19 pandemic 2020″ issued by the Board.”
Guidelines for pet animal owners during the pandemic of COVID-19
1. Pet owner is requested to buy pet food as per their requirement and not to stockpile to avoid any unnecessary shortage of pet food and to avoid difficulties for other pet owners.
2. Pet food supplier and distributors are requested to maintain a regular supply of pet food through the shop or online portals after maintaining COVID guidelines.
3. Pet owner is to identify the nearest person or contact of dog shelter or day-care who can take care of their pet in case of the pet owner or their family member infected with COVID.
4. Limit the pet walks or exercise and takes their pet out for natures call during time slot specified by the local authorities or police. They should strictly maintain social distancing norms and any other precautions as specified by the Government at the time of taking their pet for walk and natures call.
5. Pet owner is strictly advised to avoid any unnecessary contact of their pet with other humans and animals. If their pet came into contact with any person suspicious of COVID-19 it should be first isolated and then with the proper precaution to be taken like proper bath with soap/shampoo and also take advise of their veterinarian.
6. Pet owners are advised to get their pets vaccinated and keep vaccination record readily available.
Animal activists welcome AWBI decision
Pooja Rathod, an animal activist hailed the decision of Animal Welfare Board of India and expressed that it should be the pet owners responsibility as well to maintain the cleanliness. She said, “During the lockdown, there were a lot of troubles faced by the pet owners and also by the volunteers who feed stray dogs.
However, with this decision that has come, it will help the pet owners but pet owners also need to be responsible in terms of hygiene practices. For eg, if we are taking our pet for a walk, we should ensure not to litter and clean the faeces as we do inside our house. It is important to be responsible enough not to trouble people or else man-animal conflict will continue.”
Beena Malikaveetil, Managing Trustee of Tails ‘N’ Trees said, “This is a landmark decision that has come after various efforts taken by many activists. During the lockdown, societies were having their own set of rules and many pet owners were facing issues to take their dogs for a walk or even to get pet food.
All these pet animals, they have the habit of answering nature call outside and it is not correct to restrict them. Even for pet food, people were facing problems as the societies were not allowing the residents to go out. That was insane as even these animals have all right to live, therefore I feel it is a great victory and it will also help pet owners.”
