Karimnagar: The Karimnagar II-town police on Wednesday registered a case against a pet shop owner and seized birds based on a complaint by animal welfare activist A. Goutham, who alleged that the shop owner violated the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017, in Karimnagar.
Goutham alleged that pet shop owners Mohammad Ameer and Nikhat Shaheen operated their business under the name "Minar Pet Shop and Flowers."
They reportedly sold birds, rabbits, exotic birds, fantail pigeons, lovebirds, and other small and rare birds, keeping them in overcrowded and unhygienic cages, which caused the animals pain, starvation, and thirst.
The prices of birds ranged from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000, depending on demand. The treatment of these birds allegedly violated the rules outlined in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCAA). The police registered a case under PCAA.175 BNSS r/w 3(5) BNS against the pet shop owners.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Goutham explained that he had initially filed the complaint in August at the II-town police station against the pet shop located opposite Geetha Bhavan. When the police did not take action, he filed a petition in the III Additional JMFC Court, which ordered the police to register an FIR.
The police registered the case on November 2 but were initially hesitant to seize the birds and take action against the owners.
Later, after Goutham met Karimnagar ACP Narendar and with intervention from Maneka Gandhi, the police took action, seizing around 70 birds, which were subsequently placed in the custody of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Karimnagar.
