The lockdown announced by the Centre to fight COVID-19 pandemic has having fatal effect on the birds and animals which have been caged in the pet shops. Ever since the lockdown was implemented, many pet shops have shut the shops leaving the birds and animals to starvation death. Luckily, a team led by Karnataka Animal Welfare Board in association with BBMP and other animal groups have been raiding the pet shops in Bengaluru city and have saved hundreds of birds and animals. During the raids, two Persian cats, eight rabbits, 10 pigeons and more than 100 other birds have been saved. On the other hand, two rabbits and four birds have perished due to starvation.
The raids were led by Karnataka Animal Welfare Board member Mr Shivanand Dumble in south Bengaluru on Wednesday. During the drive conducted over the last three days, it was found that most of the pet shops in the city have been functioning illegally and now it has been decided to initiate criminal proceedings against unlicensed pet shops. Mr Shivanand Dumble said, "We have inspected 13 pet shops so far and found that many are operating illegally without license and animals and birds have been caged mercilessly. When we raided a pet shop in Ulsoor, we found that two rabbits and a few other birds had already died and the place was filled with foul smell. We rescued a few animals which were not fed since the lockdown had been announced and luckily they had survived. We have rescued these animals/birds from the pet shops and rehabilitated them in various rescue centres." In the last three days, raids have been conducted in Oil Mill road, Ashoka Pillar, Koramangala, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagar, Basaveshwaranagar and Ulsoor.
Mr Dumble has directed all the pet shops in the city to open their shops immediately and feed the animals and take care of their well being. Any issues faced by pet shops need to be brought to the notice of the Karnataka Animal Welfare Board. He also said that the pet shops need to procure license from the Animal Husbandry department of BBMP and anyone violating this will face stern punishment.
