THE MUTTS & their champions

The drooly-eyed and tail-wagging mutt is in danger. And the law of the land is not making matters any better. There is collective anger towards BBMP’s bye-laws with regards to licensing of pets, and this saw a group meet the Mayor yesterday to present their case. Thankfully for the voiceless animals, humans have come to the rescue.

The petition, saw Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, a pet owner, and thousands of activists rallying for justice against what they call Draconian laws, and it might see some reprieve as the Mayor has put the law on one pet per flat and three per house on hold for the time being. It all started with the heroic activism on social media — “No, BBMP! #NotWithoutMyDogs! All of you that feel the pain from unilaterally made BBMP bye-laws around pet ownership, please show solidarity...” that many posted. The citizen-led online petition Bit.ly/HomePet garnered 5,000 signatures in two days and thousands in the city posted the hashtag #notwithoutmydogs. At the heart of the issue is what these parents of pets, and activists are calling laws that ignore animal welfare, completely.

Harini Raghavan, founding member Citizens for Animal Birth Control and leadership search consultant explains more about the concerns among activists, “Bye-law 7 and 8 state any dog without a BBMP license or badge, or a stray animal without the approved ear notch can be captured and impounded for 72 hours or more. If unclaimed,  these dogs are considered stray as per ABC 2001 Rules, and if healthy, they can be sold, sent to a shelter, adopted or detained in a dog pound. If found to be suffering from suspected rabies, they will be euthanised.” For Harini, Priya and innumerable pet owners, the law itself is, “Very poorly executed. It is pro human but anti animals. Animal Birth Control notches the ears of a stray dog post surgery. There are many stray dogs or ‘indies’ owned by families. What happens to an owned, unlicensed indie which is not claimed in 72 hours? What happens to the stray indies without notched ears having not undergone ABC procedures? While the ABC Programme is operational, it’s yet to attain critical mass. If not carefully executed, we will see grave injustice in the name of impounding stray animals. The BBMP Animal Husbandry Department has to be the voice of compassion and reason for the voiceless,” stresses Harini,

Pet lover Itti Singh posted, this note to BBMP, “Dear BBMP, make laws that prevent indiscriminate breeding and promote rescuing dogs! Your current stance does feel rather stupid (pardon my language). Oh and FYI… there are nearly 340 dog breeds! #notwithoutmydog and #onetightwhack!” A feeling many concur with.

For Godrej Rustumji, a close protection officer and parent to four Rottweilers, it’s time to constitute laws that work for human and animals, “I am an animal lover who has sacrificed my life for my four babies. I have brought them up with love, care, comfort and attention. Now, the BBMP in its most absurd law, wants to take that all away! Why don’t our departments concentrate on what is important rather than dictating unconstitutional rules? We are going to fight this and ensure that our babies are safe and untouched. We are not going to let the BBMP tear us apart. #notwithoutmydogs.” The issues go beyond just how many pets one can have. From the classification of breeds and micro-chipping, etc — the list is long, and worrying. Priya Chetty-Rajagopal who met the Mayor to put forth the petition yesterday alongwith other animal activists said before the meeting, “This is such a ludicrous law. BBMP is unable to control the street dog population as the ABC programme is sketchy. With an inability to manage dogs on
the street, it chooses to enter a house to worry about the dogs that we have been responsibly managing! My question is how does that happen? How does illegal breeding not get stopped? When rescue missions of huskies tied in the blazing sun on a terrace are not being checked upon by the BBMP, how can they be allowed into our homes?”

Mayor Sampath Raj, who met with the activists, revealed, “Many animal lovers and pet lovers have come to me regarding the licensing of dogs, they are very concerned and think it is not going well with the limitations on the number of dogs in flats and houses. I’ve had a detailed conversation with them and have decided to put this matter on hold as of now. BBMP and I will have a meeting about the issue and decide what is okay for the people as well as the government.” A ray of hope for many pet owners, but we will just have to wait this one out.