GURUGRAM: After outrage and a protest, MCG on Sunday decided to withdraw part of its order that spoke of “disposing of” or “destroying” the unregistered pet dogs who weren’t claimed by their owners within a specific timeframe. The revised December 8 notice now says that a pet dog found to be unregistered will be “detained” at a facility until the canine is claimed back by its owner, who also has to pay up a detention fee within a week. “MCG never meant to kill any unregistered dogs,” an official from the corporatino said on Monday. “We have now taken back part of the order that said unregistered dogs will be destroyed or disposed of. Such dogs will be detained and kept at a shelter till their owner claims them back after paying a penalty,” the official added. Multiple courts have previously ruled that animals too have a right to life. Pet owners in the city and animal lovers had protested against the public notice on December 11, calling the order “illegal” and questioning the civic body’s jurisdiction on coming up with such rules. The same notice had also said pet owners will need to make sure that their dogs wear a collar with an attached metal token. Officials also told TOI that the pet registration form was being altered after taking into account some of the objections by pet owners. This includes simplification of the form and doing away with the clause that asks an owner to provide details of the importer if a resident has a foreign dog breed Officials did not give more details. Pet owners said on Monday they were relieved that the corporation heeded to their demands. “ My pug had a skin disease, so he was abandoned. I also have a German shepherd who is paralysed. Where do we get the papers of these dogs from? It’s good that MCG has removed the clause, but more such clauses like documents for rescued dogs should also be done away with,” said Vijay Giare, a resident of DLF-2. In another order earlier this month, MCG had sought information on “ferocious and dangerous” breeds of dogs, with the intent to ban them from being kept as pets. The Animal Welfare Board of India on December 9 wrote back to the MCG, which had sought details, and clarified that it has not restricted any specific breed of pet dog in the country. The exchange was prompted by a ruling of the district consumer forum in Gurugram, which had directed MCG to ban 11 breeds of dogs in the city. The forum’s order was subsequently stayed by the Punjab and Haryana high court. Till Monday night, deputy municipal commissioner Vijaypal Yadav and MCG commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja did not respond about a possible ban on dog breeds in the city.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/never-meant-to-kill-municipal-corporation-of-gurugram-tweaks-order-on-pet-dogs/articleshow/96357770.cms
