Hyderabad: None of the city’s 70 pet shops is officially registered. The shopkeepers, without registering their business, have obtained trade licences allegedly with the help of certain corrupt officials of the GHMC.
Sources said the pet shop owners obtained trade licences to sell animal feed, but were selling animals without registering for the same with the animal husbandry department.
Corporation officials said they are now keeping a close eye on the pet trade and are ready to seize the shops if the owners do not get valid registration and trade licences.
As per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018, no person should sell or trade in pet animals, whether retail or wholesale, or establish operate a pet shop, or any other establishment engaged in sale, purchase or exchange of pets without obtaining a certificate of registration from the State Animal Welfare Board (AWB).
Anybody intending to set up a pet shop must approach the AWB for registration, upon which a veterinarian will inspect the shop. If the conditions are fulfilled, a certificate of registration is issued to the owner. This certificate is mandatory for issuing trade licences to pet shops.
A senior GHMC official said there were 33 pet shops in Charminar zone, 14 in Khairatabad zone and remaining 23 in Kukatpally, Serilingampally and Secunderabad zones.
“The shop owners, hand in glove with the officials, have been running the business illegally over the years. With three weeks remaining for the registration deadline, the GHMC along with the animal husbandry department has been keeping a close watch on the animal trade,” the official said.
Once the exercise is completed, the corporation will seize unregistered pet shops. Besides, the coordination will fix the sale price of all pets — dogs, cats, peasants and other species. The official said that animals, if seized, would be shifted to shelters or animal welfare associations would be roped in to provide food for the pets.
