Chandigarh/SAS Nagar, February 21: Taking a significant step to ensure humane treatment of animals, the Punjab Government has announced to make registration of all dog breeders and pet shops compulsory under Animal Welfare Board Punjab. The decision was taken at a meeting of Animal Welfare Board Punjab chaired by Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister Mr. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, which was held at Pashudhan Parisar, Sector-68, SAS Nagar (Mohali).
S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that dog breeders and pet shops will be registered under 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 welfare of 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 said. S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian also asked the Board members and concerned officers to educate pet shop owners and breeders about proper animal care and welfare and regulations.
He stressed that the transportation rules and rules of weight limit on animals should be implemented immediately by the concerned authorities. Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry Rahul Bhandari, Director Dr. Gursharanjit Singh Bedi and Mr. Amit Chauhan, Mrs. Sarabjit Kaur, Prem Singh Batth, Surinder Singh Sidhu, Rajinder Lohtia and Narinder Ghago 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 about animal rights and rules for prevention of cruelty against animals.