This is the notice I have photographed while touring from Boston to Philadelphia in United States of America . Its true that about 80% population of Europe as well as North America is keeping dogs or cats as Pet Animals but how much the country cares for its general public is very clear from above notice. They do not allow pet owners to act as per their will but have formulated strong rules ,even for pet owners ; as in this case , they can not get free of leaving pet waste or feces on the public place . Rather they have to clean the premises or has to face a fine. On face of it, this law is against 80% population who are holding pet animals but I have witnessed behavior of Americans who welcome such law and are against those who try to break such law.
Contrary to the American law, it is routine site of observing our pet owners walking in the morning and evening with their dogs for allowing them to defecate in public places, including children parks. Either they are ignorant about the diseases transmitted by these wastes or ignore the health problems of their neighbors as well as their children who come to play in these places and accidentally swallow parasitic eggs and micro-organisms ,spread in the environment from the scattered fecal material of these animals. This is also a main source of contaminating our water bodies with important pathogens. I think time has come to give a serious thought of containing the diseases spread by these pet wastes as well as by street dogs.
Though almost all , in America, are keeping pet animals, no house will be seen giving warning to the visitors about the dogs . Why ?
On the other hand, keeping of pet animals , in India , is generally not emotional but rather a " status symbol" and hardly 1% population or elite group is keeping pet animals or dogs in their premises. And every passerby observes a big hoarding in such houses :
BEWARE OF DOGS
Why such warnings in these houses ? This is to exclude pet owners from any responsibility if a dog attacks the stranger; even if it bites the stranger with all the possibility of transmitting rabies ,there is no law which can penalize the pet owner . And it is happening every where in India. This may be due to two reasons . First, usually the stranger has a lower social status than pet owner hence no way of protesting, no one is found on his side ; neither there is any law ( if any, not highlighted even in Veterinary Hospitals !) that can penalize the pet owner and may help our poor stranger . Secondly ,if the coming person is either a relative or acquaintance, the matter is settled amicably with mutual adjustments.
So , the question is why the pet owners are left loose from their responsibilities ? Certainly they should be held responsible if their pet animal harms general public ,in any way .Why the ordinary public should suffer on the cost of pet owners ?
If you are roaming in any city of America, Boston, New York, Washington, you will hardly see any person on the road with her dog and if you cross the animal , it will not bark on you or any public; rather it moves non-significantly. On the other hand, there are day to day scenes how pet dogs bark on our children scaring them . Some are frightened to such an extend that it affects their psychology . Is there any penalty by law for such furious acts of pet animals to the public ?
And the most important question is what about the chances of transmitting the most treated disease Rabies by these animals .There is no law for compulsory vaccination of pet dogs against rabies and it has left on the will of the pet owners .Neither there is any law holding pet owner responsible if his dog bites a stranger ?
This is the time when our Veterinarians should come forward so that new laws should be framed for the pet owners, for welfare of the two ,for which pet owners are responsible. First,what a pet owner has to do with his animals so that animals should be protected from their cruelty , making vaccination a compulsion for pet owners ,and not disposing pet waste at public places ; second , state/center government law is required to protect public against pet animal for barking , frightening or biting ....
AND OUR VETERINARIANS SHOULD COME FORWARD ASKING GOVERNMENTS TO FRAME LAWS TO PROTECT-BOTH PET ANIMALS AND THE PUBLIC FROM THE PET OWNERS' IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR
PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGHCOURT DECISION :I was dismayed by no response even from Animal Welfare Board Chairman or any other Veterinary Organization on the above issue ,I am pleased to read a news item in Dainik Bhaskar ,Jabalpur 13th Dec 2013 edition where P & H High-Court has asked the Governments to formulate guidelines for pet dogs and pet owners. Accordingly, the Nagar Nigam ,Mohalee of Punjab has imposed compulsory registration of pet dogs with Rs 250/ tax per year in the Nagar Nigam and penalty for the defaulters .
I am not aware what rules Nagar Nigam is going to frame for the pet owners but here is the role of our Animal welfare board and other vety organizations to come forward to provide necessary help to both - the helpless animal and general public. I am reading the writings on the wall where our veterinarians and related professional organizations have to be more public friendly and vocal for raising such issues in appropriate forums prior taking lead by any other body , if we are interested to maintain honor and prestige of our Veterinary profession.Any one is free to forward this post to appropriate authorities for consideration with regards to modifying animal laws of our governments .
Contrary to the American law, it is routine site of observing our pet owners walking in the morning and evening with their dogs for allowing them to defecate in public places, including children parks. Either they are ignorant about the diseases transmitted by these wastes or ignore the health problems of their neighbors as well as their children who come to play in these places and accidentally swallow parasitic eggs and micro-organisms ,spread in the environment from the scattered fecal material of these animals. This is also a main source of contaminating our water bodies with important pathogens. I think time has come to give a serious thought of containing the diseases spread by these pet wastes as well as by street dogs.
Though almost all , in America, are keeping pet animals, no house will be seen giving warning to the visitors about the dogs . Why ?
On the other hand, keeping of pet animals , in India , is generally not emotional but rather a " status symbol" and hardly 1% population or elite group is keeping pet animals or dogs in their premises. And every passerby observes a big hoarding in such houses :
BEWARE OF DOGS
Why such warnings in these houses ? This is to exclude pet owners from any responsibility if a dog attacks the stranger; even if it bites the stranger with all the possibility of transmitting rabies ,there is no law which can penalize the pet owner . And it is happening every where in India. This may be due to two reasons . First, usually the stranger has a lower social status than pet owner hence no way of protesting, no one is found on his side ; neither there is any law ( if any, not highlighted even in Veterinary Hospitals !) that can penalize the pet owner and may help our poor stranger . Secondly ,if the coming person is either a relative or acquaintance, the matter is settled amicably with mutual adjustments.
So , the question is why the pet owners are left loose from their responsibilities ? Certainly they should be held responsible if their pet animal harms general public ,in any way .Why the ordinary public should suffer on the cost of pet owners ?
If you are roaming in any city of America, Boston, New York, Washington, you will hardly see any person on the road with her dog and if you cross the animal , it will not bark on you or any public; rather it moves non-significantly. On the other hand, there are day to day scenes how pet dogs bark on our children scaring them . Some are frightened to such an extend that it affects their psychology . Is there any penalty by law for such furious acts of pet animals to the public ?
And the most important question is what about the chances of transmitting the most treated disease Rabies by these animals .There is no law for compulsory vaccination of pet dogs against rabies and it has left on the will of the pet owners .Neither there is any law holding pet owner responsible if his dog bites a stranger ?
This is the time when our Veterinarians should come forward so that new laws should be framed for the pet owners, for welfare of the two ,for which pet owners are responsible. First,what a pet owner has to do with his animals so that animals should be protected from their cruelty , making vaccination a compulsion for pet owners ,and not disposing pet waste at public places ; second , state/center government law is required to protect public against pet animal for barking , frightening or biting ....
AND OUR VETERINARIANS SHOULD COME FORWARD ASKING GOVERNMENTS TO FRAME LAWS TO PROTECT-BOTH PET ANIMALS AND THE PUBLIC FROM THE PET OWNERS' IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR
PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGHCOURT DECISION :I was dismayed by no response even from Animal Welfare Board Chairman or any other Veterinary Organization on the above issue ,I am pleased to read a news item in Dainik Bhaskar ,Jabalpur 13th Dec 2013 edition where P & H High-Court has asked the Governments to formulate guidelines for pet dogs and pet owners. Accordingly, the Nagar Nigam ,Mohalee of Punjab has imposed compulsory registration of pet dogs with Rs 250/ tax per year in the Nagar Nigam and penalty for the defaulters .
I am not aware what rules Nagar Nigam is going to frame for the pet owners but here is the role of our Animal welfare board and other vety organizations to come forward to provide necessary help to both - the helpless animal and general public. I am reading the writings on the wall where our veterinarians and related professional organizations have to be more public friendly and vocal for raising such issues in appropriate forums prior taking lead by any other body , if we are interested to maintain honor and prestige of our Veterinary profession.Any one is free to forward this post to appropriate authorities for consideration with regards to modifying animal laws of our governments .
Thank You for the information.
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