Rights & Duties of Pet Owners

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”

Anatole France, French poet

Every year a special day is dedicated to pets as National pets day on 11th April. Pet animals are like family to the animal lovers and become a member of their family. Yes, in today’s time animals can be trusted more than the closest one of the family but being a four-legged, no voice they are also been hated and denied to be in the societies of human place as they create a nuisance. But these animals are also part of the earth as human beings and plants so they also have the right to live not to be beaten or harassed.

A small real incident in a society A 33-year-old single woman living in Gurgaon’s Nirvana Woodstock, Anchal Kapoor has been met by staggering hate by her neighbors over the past few weeks. Just for Feeding ignored stray dogs in her society.

When a mob of around 100 people gathered outside her house recently, Anchal decided to live stream a video of them on her Facebook page. According to them, the dogs were becoming a nuisance and a threat to their kids for which Anchal was to be blamed. Several calls were also made to her landlord to evict her from her house where she has been living for years.

This is just one incident much other harassment happens daily some are small some are at a dangerous level.

According to Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, every person has Right to personal life and liberty so accordingly, it is a legal right to live the way they want but not disturbing the harmony of the state, and adoption of pet animals like dogs, birds, cows, goats, etc does not make it illegal. It is a right which makes a person to treat, care, and adopt street animals as pets but with due care not for unfair trade practices.

Article 51(g) of the Indian Constitution, the law recognizes and grants every citizen of India the right to choose to live with or without a companion animal.

Article 19 of Indian Constitution freedom of speech expression also gives free right to express feelings to animals whether on street or at home no one can stop from doing so.

The love for pets among citizens of India has increased within recent times, and the of owning pets has become a rapidly growing trend. This is mostly due to the fact that a lot of people have come to appreciate the companionship nature of pets, especially dogs and cats.

But just owning or adopting a pet does not make them free from rights or duties. There are certain RIGHTS AND DUTIES FOR THE PET OWNERS.

Animal Welfare Board of India issued a guidelines regarding the kinds of owners of pets:

• Pet Owners

• Care-givers of Street Dogs

• Residents’ Welfare Associations, Apartment Owners’ Associations, etc.

Rights of Pet Owners:

• The right to keep their pets, despite any contrary pressure or consensus against such rights.

• The right to be free from any form of intimidation to abandon their pet(s).

Duties of Pet Owners:

• Pets Should not be Abandoned: Once a pet is adopted it should not be abandoned. It is a violation of the law.

• Give Constant Attention to Pets: Pets should be paid attention regularly and treated as a toddler.

• Check-mate Pets: Pet owners are to ensure that their pets do not constitute a source of nuisance to others.

• Try to Keep Pet Dogs Quiet: Pet owners should always keep watch that they do not make noise especially at night.

• Health Maintenance for Pets: Proper health care, medication, and injections should be given to the pet by pet owners.

• Clean Pet’s Poop: Pet owners or anybody they entrust their pet to, e.g. dog walker or care-giver, must clean up the pet’s poop, especially in public premises.

• Leash Pet: Pet owners should leash their pets for their safety and for the Public also.

• Use of Alternative Lifts or Elevators Where Possible.

Pet owners are advised not to object to use ‘alternate’ lifts or elevators in a building, if such lift or elevator is working and is conveniently accessible. The rights and duties to the Pet owners mentioned in the guidelines should be strictly followed. If any violation of it is seen the violator of it is also punishable by law.

Punishment for Offender’s:

According to the guideline, animal Cruelty is an offense under section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Anybody who is found guilty of this offense is punishable under sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code. Such an offender is liable to imprisonment or fine under these sections.

In conclusion, animals are also living beings and they should be treated well and not be used as a source of entertainment by throwing colors or bursting crackers on them. They also have the right to live. Not only Pet owners should take due care of their pets, but non-pet owners should also take care and be sympathetic and flexible to both pets and pet owners. Its duty of every person to be humble to every member of the community whether it be human or animals or pet owners.

The Animal welfare board of India,1962 was the first set up by the governing body for the Animal Welfare Board. It was established in accordance with Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1969,(No.59-1960) as a part of Environment and Forest, Government of India. The bye-laws Listed for the concern of animals and the prevention of infliction of pain in pet animals.