All pet shops and dog breeding centers in the national capital must register with the Delhi Animal Welfare Board within a month or face closure for non-compliance, according to a public notice.

The move follows the Delhi High Court’s order to ensure accountability and compliance with the country’s laws, and was welcomed by animal rights activists.

In its public notice dated November 6, the Delhi Animal Welfare Board has demanded that all pet shops and dog breeding centers in the National Capital Territory of Delhi register their establishments within a month.

Failure to comply with these rules will result in the closure of unregistered establishments, in accordance with the rules set out in the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017, and the Pet Shops Rules, 2018, both under the 1960 Act on the prevention of cruelty to animals. .

The Board has enabled online registration through the e-district portal for ease of access, the notice said.

This decision aims to strengthen animal welfare and ensure compliance with legal standards, according to the Council.

Speaking about the notice, Asher Jesudoss, member of the executive committee of the board, told PTI: “The Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017, and the Pet Shop Rules, 2018, make it mandatory for pet stores and dog breeding institutions around the world. country must be registered with the National Animal Care Council. It is illegal for such an institution to operate without this registration.

“Our team visited several pet stores and found numerous violations in these establishments, including inadequate safety measures, poor hygiene and inhumane living conditions for the animals,” Jesudoss said.

Following an order by the Delhi High Court to ensure accountability and compliance with the country’s laws, the department has intensified its efforts through newspaper advertisements, he said.

He also mentioned that the department plans to broadcast this information on radio and FM channels in order to reach as many establishment owners as possible, encouraging them to register with the Council.

“Any establishment that fails to register within one month of this notice will be closed and sealed in accordance with the rules laid down by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960,” Jesudoss added.

Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder of Wildlife SOS and executive member of Friendicoes, said that “this is a welcome move for pet owners as it will help eradicate cruelty and illegal trafficking of exotic animals, and ensure better welfare and care for the animals housed. in pet stores as well as among breeders.

“Mandatory registration of dog breeders will also help streamline health checks and promote ethical pet ownership. Unethical breeding in puppy mills often produces puppies with birth defects , genetic problems and compromised health, leading to pain and suffering for animals and burdening pet owners with costly veterinary care,” he said.

“This sometimes results in large-scale abandonment of pets with health and behavioral problems at shelters like Friendicoes, who then find themselves facing a financial burden.

“Therefore, the mandatory registration of dog breeders and pet stores by the national regulatory body will help combat these unethical practices plaguing our community. This is the need of the hour,” emphasized Satyanarayan.

Animal rights activist Ridhima Saraswat also highlighted the urgency of enforcing registration of pet shops and dog breeding centers across the city.

“There are many pet and dog breeding shops in the city that operate often neglecting basic standards. Many of these stores house animals in poor living conditions, with compromised hygiene and inadequate safety measures, such as lack of fire-fighting equipment,” she said.

“Different races are often crowded together, creating stressful and dangerous environments. The people running these stores are also generally untrained, underscoring the need for strict registration enforcement,” Saraswat added.