According to a public announcement, every pet store and dog breeding center in the national capital must file paperwork with the Delhi Animal Welfare Board within a week or face removal due to non-compliance.
The move follows the Delhi High Court’s ruling to enforce accountability and compliance with the law, which was applauded by animal rights organizations. The Delhi Animal Welfare Board issued a public notice on November 6 requiring all pet shops and dog breeding centers in the National Capital Territory of Delhi to register within one month.
Failure to comply will result in the closure of non-registered establishments, according to the rules specified in the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017 and the Pet Shop Rules, 2018, both under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, it stated. The announcement states that the Board has enabled online registration through the e-district portal for ease of access.
According to the Board, the measure aims to improve animal welfare while also guaranteeing legal compliance. Speaking about the notice, Asher Jesudoss, Member of the Board’s Executive Committee, told PTI, “The Dog Development of & Marketing Rules, 2017, and the Pet Shop Rules, the year 2018 make it mandatory to feed pet shops and dog breeding institutions across the country to register with the State Animal Welfare Board.” It is prohibited for such an institution to go ahead without this registration.”
“Our team visited seven pet shops and found many breaches in these locations, including poor security systems, shoddy sanitation, and horrific living conditions for animals,” the researcher stated. Following a Delhi High Court decision to enforce accountability and conformity with the laws of the country, the department has increased its efforts through newspaper advertising, he stated.
He further stated that the department intends to disseminate this information on radio and FM networks to reach as many facility owners as possible and encourage them to register with the Board. “Any institution that fails to file a registration within the period of this notice will face closure and closure as per regulations framed on the Prevention of Cruelty towards Animals Act, 1960,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-creator of Wildlife SOS, or Survival and executive member of Friendicoes, said it “is an excellent decision for pet owners as it hopes to eradicate vengeance and the illegal trafficking of exotic pets, as well as ensure better welfare and preservation of animals housed in pet shops and with breeders”.