In order to check and stop the cruel practices adopted during the sale and purchase of animals in the union territory of Chandigarh, the UT Administration on Friday issued directions to the pet shop owners.
The guidelines were also issued to streamline the procedure of purchase and sale by the breeders and pet shop owners.
According to the guidelines issued by the UT Administration, “No pet shop shall sell any animal or bird intended to be used for food. And, pets/animals shall not be sold at too early age i.e. at least 8 weeks of age. Also, pregnant animals should not be put on sale.”
“The pet shop owner must follow the ‘Pet Animal Enclosure Standards’. No pups/dogs shall be sold with mutilated tails/ears,” stated the guidelines.
A spokesperson of the UT Administration said that it has come to the notice of authority in UT Administration that the pet animals and birds in the area are being subjected to extreme cruelty and are being sold illegally.
“The Animal law of India i.e. Wildlife (Protection ) Act , 1972 and Article 51 A (g) of Constitution of India and Sub-Section (3) of Chapter 1 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 are being violated by people engaged in breeding, sale and purchase of animals in Chandigarh. Thus, the guidelines have been issued,” said the spokesperson.
A pet shop should be at least 50 meters away from butcher shop, so that the view of slaughtered animals and birds carcass is not visible to the live pets and birds.
As per the guidelines issued by the UT Administration, all reasonable precautions should be taken to prevent unnatural deaths and spread of spread of infectious diseases in the pet shops.
The Administration has also prohibited the shop owners to exhibit the pets and birds and trade them like commodities. Pet shop owners should not cram the pet animals and birds in cages outside their shops along with hoardings or in front of their shops in open sunlight.
Besides, the pet shop will not offer any live animal or bird as prize, give any animal or bird as an inducement to enter any contest, game or any other competition.
The pet shop owners have been directed for a routine fortnightly health check of the birds and pets kept in a pet shop for sale. Also, it should be carried out by a registered Veterinary Practitioner and a record of same should be maintained.
The Administration has made it mandatory for all the pet shop owners to supply an authenticated bill to the purchaser and information pertaining to the pet or bird purchased including its species, age, breed, sex, identification marks, their habits and habitat.