PREFACE These are the Board's revised Guidelines on Pet dogs and Street dogs. The earlier circulars issued on Ist February, 2014 and 20th February 2014, are hereby withdrawn.ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD OF INDIA Iyer Fron Cine Suge ate caveat ota org rear ate (rater, a ate reer oferta sere, Tc RET.) aueee MAJ. GEN. (Retd.) Dr. R. M. KHARB, avsvt CHAIRMAN 26 FEBRUARY, 2015, ‘TO WHOM SO EVER IT MAY CONCERN idelines- with respect to Pet & Street Dogs, and their Care-Givers, and for Residents’ Welfare Associations and Apartment Owners Associations ‘These Guidelines are being isued in lieu of the Board's Circular dated 20" February, 2014, lided “Pet Dogs and Street Dogs - the Board's revised circular”. The Circular dated 20" February, 2014, stands hereby withdrawn. The Animal Welfare Board of India isa statutory body established in terms of Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, This Advisory is being issued in pursuance of Section 9 (Ky) of the said Act. ‘As the number of people keeping dogs as household companions is increasing, and as animal lovers / activists are increasingly showing compassion for street dogs by feeding them, and providing veterinary and other support, conflicts may sometimes accur between pet owners and the care-givers of street dogs, on the one hand, and Resident Welfare Assoclations and Apartment Owners’ Associations on the other han Our country endorses the virtues of ahimsa and non-violence and these doctrines have always enabled people to peacefully co-exist with animals, Moreover, he duty to show compassion to all living creatures is a fundamental duty cast by Aftcle 51A(g) of the Constitution upon all citizens ofthis county ; and the law of the land protets the rights of non-humans, All points of view deserve consideration, and everybody #8 equal in the eyes of the lav. The solution therefore lies in recognizing that, and treating differing points of view, and differing, lifestyles with respect. These Guldelines aims at achieving that. Guidelines for Pot Oumers: 1, Pet owners rightly consider thelr pets as family members. A pet is akin (o a petenaial toddler and therefore deserves the same atention throughout its life as that reserved for a human ‘oder during infancy. However, pet owners are advised to ensure that their pels are nota source Of nuisance to others. In doing so, they may, however, distinguish between reasonable and ‘AWB! : Post Box No. 8672, 13/1, 3rd Seaward Road, Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai - 600 041 E-mail: [email protected] / animalwelfareboard@gmail. com Website : ww.awbi.org ‘el. +81 44 24571024 / 24571025, Fax: +91 44 24571016unreasonable, and lawful and unlawful claims as to their pets being a source of nuisance; and no amount of pressure should lead to an abandonment of a pet animal. Doing so is a violation of law. 2. Barking is a natural form of expression for a dog, and must and has to be tolerated in a society. However, incessant barking can disturb neighbors. Hence, pet owners are advised to ake every effort to keep their dogs quiet, particularly during night hours 3. Pet owners are advised to ensure that their pets are healthy, and clean. Adequate health ‘care and regular vaccinations need be ensured. Sterilisation is advised as our country has excessive dog population, 4, Pet owners, o the other caregivers or dog walkers they entrust their pets to, ae advised ‘to either clean up when the pet defecates in public premises, or participate in other solutions for ‘maintaining cleanness. Such civic sense is the need of the hour in our country, and itis also a ‘courtesy to other users of public spaces. Pet owners are advised to take the initiative to discuss ‘with their RWAs, ways and means to dispose off pet excreta, For instance, pet comers can be designated, in which pets can be trained / encouraged to relieve themselves; and a comer of the ‘complex / park can be designated as area where pet poop can be collected and deposited and ‘composted, using sawdust, etc. Such behavior may generate positivity, and greater acceptabi of pet dogs, and even street dogs. However, itis clarified that it is for each residential community and complex to decide which method works best for them, and solutions cannot be imposed on anybody. 5. _Leashing of pets in public places is advisable. Leashing of dogs assures passersby that ‘they are safe and makes them more comfortable when walking in the vicinity of an owner with hhis pet dog on a leash. Leashing also ensures the safety of the pet from being run over by ‘vehicles on streets, or worse still, being the cause of accidents. 6. Whereas you cannot be debarred by RWAs or Apartment Owners" Associations from the use of lis of elevators for your dogs, you are advised not to object to the use of “alternate” lifts if there is more than one working lft or elevator in a building, which is conveniently accessible. 1. There are many people in India who feed stray and ownerless animals. Some dispose off ‘their leftover food in this manner, and others compassionately prepare food for them. Those who feed street dogs are advised to participate in their sterilization, and yearly vaccination too, since ‘they win the trust ofthe dogs through feeding them. They are also advised to provide, or to assist animal welfare organizations in providing health care to them,