Animal Welfare India: Proposed Mandatory License to Own Pet

With a change in lifestyle, increase in income and urbanization, more and more Indian households are adopting pets. The status of pets has changed from that of a guard to a member of the family. Pet owners are now taking care to provide good food, love and luxuries to their pets. A part of the credit also goes to animal welfare India. According to a survey, there are over 3.6 million pet dogs in six major cities of India.

Animal Welfare India: Is it Mandatory to Get a License to Own a Pet?

The environment ministry has proposed a new rule that will require pet shops to have mandatory licenses for operations and carrying each species. This rule will also permit shops to sell only sterilized pets. However, an exception may be made with the permission of a veterinarian. 

Very soon a license may be mandatory to own pets as well. Also, the well-being of your pet will be examined by government officials at regular intervals. If your pet is found sick, government officials (animal welfare India) will be authorized to confiscate it.

The license would be valid for one year. The pet owner can get the license directly from local authorities or with the help of pet sellers.

However, the rules which prescribe the air- conditioned living of animals up for sale, still has to be implemented by municipal corporations and the Animal Welfare Board of India.

The rules also state that the surrounding temperature for the animal should range from 25-30degC. The rule bars establishing a pet shop near a butcher shop. The rule also requires pet sellers to attach a label on the health conditions of the animals.