MUMBAI: Any dog is capable of killing a wild animal, the state forest department has told Bombay high court in reply to a petition challenging the ban on taking pet dogs for walks on tekdis/hills in Pune.
“Any dog whether pet or not is capable of frightening, driving, wounding or killing any wild animal. Any person who intends to enter a reserved forest cannot claim any right to enter the forest along with a pet dog,’’ states the reply by assistant conservator of forests (Pune).
It adds that, “it is common knowledge that even a dog on a leash is capable" of doing it.
The petition was filed by two “pet parents” – Sharmila Karve who has two Lhasa Apsos and Pallavi Kulkarni who has a beagel and a mongrel (indie).
Their pets are usually taken for brisk walks on Vetal Tekdi.
The petitioners were shocked to read a January 4, 2021 news report that pet dogs are prohibited on tekdis.
It was followed by an undated note, purportedly issued by forest officials, which also mentioned that hills in Pune are home to peacocks, hares, snakes, birds and other animals and pet dogs may cause spread of disease among such wild fauna.
The note cited Rule 9 (1) (i) of Maharashtra Forest Rules, 2014 which prohibits trespass dog or any other domesticated or trained animal in reserved and protected forests.
The petitioners have challenged the constitutional validity of the rule and have urged the HC to quash it for being ultra vires the Indian Forest and the Wild Life (Protection) Act,1927 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960.
The reply states that only tekdis/hills around Pune which fall in reserved forests are governed by the rule.
It informs that in Pune city area, there are mainly two forest ranges Pune and Bhamburda which are reserved forests and residents take their pet dog for walks there.
“Footpaths, public streets, grounds and open spaces other than reserve forests are available in the city in order to walk and exercise pet dogs,’’ it said, adding that numerous complaints were received from citizens who faced problems from pet dogs.
On March 19 petitioners’ advocates Kalyani Tulankar and Ajinkya Udane expressed surprise that pet dogs could pose a danger to wild animals.
A bench headed by Justice Shahrukh Kathawalla then sought the state’s reply.