Pet shop owners and animal rights activists across the city are unhappy over the draft of the Pet Shop Rules 2010 proposed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests about a month ago.

Activists, pet shop owners oppose sterilisation rule

Pet shop owners and animal rights activists across the city are unhappy over the draft of the Pet Shop Rules 2010 proposed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests about a month ago.

Of the 20-odd rules laid down in the draft, the most discouraging one is the compulsory sterilisation of pets, said pet shop owners and activists.

Anay Joshee, owner of Ugam Pet Shop in Narayan Peth, said that the proposed rules in the draft are not practical and will hinder their business.

"If the laws get implemented we will lose our basic livelihood. It would mean that no pets will be available for future generations. We have approached representatives and pet lovers to take up this issue," said Joshee.

"Another proposal that states that we need to maintain a record of customers who purchase pets from us is impractical. People will be reluctant to purchase from us."

A lot of other pet shop owners are supporting Joshee and they have collectively decided to request MP Supriya Sule to take up the issue in Parliament.

Vijaya Rathod, a pet lover, said that sterilisation would interfere with the emotional life of cats and dogs because of hormonal changes.

"Sterilised animals are abnormally big," she said.

Vijay Bhat, a social activist, described the rule as draconian and said that it was inhuman as after the present generation there would be no dogs or cats available to the public as pets.

Anjali Paranjpe, member of Blue Breed, which works for animals, explained that pups are normally bought when they are two months old.

"The law emphasises on sterilisation done by a vet within four months of sale, which is not realistic. This rule is just to control animal breeding," she said.