The People For Animals has urged the Director, AH and VS-cum-Member Secretary, State Animal Welfare Board (SAWB) to shut pet shops in the State, especially in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, for violating rules.
“As per the FARD notification dated 17.07.2020 all pet shops should obtain certificate of registration from the State Animal Welfare Board within 60 days from the date of notification as per provision under rule-3 of the Pet shop rule. But no shop is having the permission and illegal trading is going on. They are also selling some protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 which is also a crime and punishable under the Act,” said a letter by the forum.
A survey conducted by the forum revealed that the shops selling birds and animals don’t have any proper record from where they were procuring the species for selling in the market. They don’t have any health records of animals and birds. They are keeping the animals and birds in a very cruel manner as the space of the cages is very small and not following the specifications under said rule. They are violating all the pet shop rules, the letter said.
“As per notification No. 122/SPCA dated 22.07.2020, the Block Veterinary Officer of the concern block will act as the authorized representative of SAWB to inspect the pet shops. No pet shop can keep and sell any species before obtaining certificate of registration. But noneof the shops is following the rule which should be inspected and seized for the illegal possession of birds and animals,” said People for Animals secretary Jiban B Das.