Hyderabad: At Kondapur (near Jayabheri enclave) a one and half acre dump yard of the GHMC is being turned into a pet park. The green space will have park furniture, pet games and a kiosk. There are over 2 lakh pets in the city that include dogs, cats and birds. This park will be exclusively for pets and will include space for exercise, too. The park planned in Jubilee Hills has been cancelled.
Currently, the only open pet park in Hyderabad is at Necklace Road near the P.V. Narasimha Rao ghat. Every Sunday, during early hours one can find a large number of dogs and dog lovers on the Necklace Road.
“The pets can play, cuddle and socialise with each other. Owners will be allowed to let their leash out and permit the pets to run around the entire space. With regard to the pet equipment, for cats, we have zero down on climb and sit equipment and for dogs, it will be more of functional training like hoop jump, Teeter Totter, dog walk ability obstacle.
This will help create a park where an animal lover community can come together and socialise while their pets get much-needed exercise”, said Ms. Hari Chandana Dasari – West Zone Municipal Commissioner.
“With regular socialising, dogs learn to behave with strangers and other dogs. It is mentally and physically refreshing. And it’s fun for the pet lovers too. They feel relaxed watching their pets run, jump and hop with happiness”, added Ms. Vasanthi Vadi, vice-president, Blue Cross.
Presently, most GHMC parks in Hyderabad do not allow dogs to enter the premises, as the staff and visitors object out of fear for pets or worry about the park’s sanitisation. The one at Kondapur will be the first authorised GHMC park exclusively for pets.
The kiosk will have a notice board, wherein information on missing, lost dogs can be put up. This space will also give opportunities for animal lovers to educate others on pet training.
The construction of the pet park is likely to take three months. Currently, the GHMC staff has undertaken the cleaning up operation at the GHMC dumping yard, where the park is all set to be built.
