Observing that “any dog can become ferocious”, the High Court of Karnataka told the Central government that it is necessary to issue certain guidelines for “responsible pet ownership” through rules framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
“It is not only those dogs which are branded ferocious that can indulge in inflicting harm upon human beings or animals in the surrounding. Any dog can become ferocious. A dog bite is a dog bite, be it from a branded ferocious dog or any other dog. An appropriately constituted committee should delve upon the concept of responsible pet ownership to be protected, and irresponsible pet ownership to be penalised,” the court observed.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna made the suggestions in his recent order quashing a circular imposing ban on 23 ferocious and dangerous dog breeds by the Centre through in the absence of such power available in the law to impose blank ban on dog breeds.
