In a significant move to ensure humane treatment to animals, Punjab Government has announced the mandatory registration of all dog breeders and pet shops under the Pashu Bhalai Board Punjab. This decision was taken in the meeting of Pashu Bhalai Board Punjab chaired by S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries, at Livestock Complex, Sector-68, SAS Nagar (Mohali).
S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the dog breeders and pet shops would be registered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules 2016. The main objective of the move is to prevent cruelty against animals and promote responsible breeding practices in the state.
The Board will monitor and regulate the activities of breeders and pet shops, ensuring that they adhere to standards that promote the health and well-being of the animals. This includes ensuring that animals are not subjected to inhumane living conditions and are provided with adequate care, and are not overbred. It will encourage ethical practices in the marketing of pets including dogs and cats, he added.
S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian also asked the Board members and officials concerned to educate the pet shop owners and breeders about proper animal care and welfare and rules. He emphasised that the transportation rules and rules for load limits on animals should be implemented by the concerned authorities immediately.
Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry Rahul Bhandari, Director Dr. Gursharanjit Singh Bedi and Mr. Amit Chauhan, Smt. Sarbjit Kaur, Prem Singh Bath, Surinder Singh Sidhu, Rajinder Lohatia and Narinder Ghagon attended the meeting as members of the Board.
The Animal Husbandry Minister also asked the Board members to take initiatives including organising lectures in schools and colleges to create awareness regarding animal rights and rules for prevention of cruelty against animals.