Pet shop owner booked for cruelty in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: The Peelamedu police on Saturday registered a case against a pet shop owner under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
M Gokul, administrative assistant of NGO Humane Animal Society (HAS), lodged a police complaint in May after pet dogs, rabbits and birds were found kept in cages in a narrow space at Big Fish Aquarium Petshop on Periyar Nagar. The animals had sustained injuries but shop owner Dhanushkodi failed to provide proper veterinary care.
With the help of police, the NGO confiscated two puppies, a rabbit and a bird from the shop on May 27.
However, no action was initiated against the shop owner, who continued to sell pets.
Meanwhile, Gokul lodged a complaint on Friday against the shop owner for violating the rules. He should be punished and all the pets should be surrendered to the NGO, he said.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case against Dhanushkodi under Section 11 (1) (h) of the Act.