Birds kept in a cramped cage at a pet shop in Guwahati. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, Oct. 4: With pet shops mushrooming in the city and the state and with no rules to govern them, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation is contemplating amendments to the “archaic” GMC Act of 1971 in order to introduce bylaws to regulate pet shops. Matt Too, the sick Labrador pup, is a direct victim of Guwahati’s pet shops running amok.

The Telegraph in its October 2 edition had reported how MT was languishing at a pet shop on Rajgarh Road, his cage stuck out in the heat and dust, while the pup waited for a customer. MT disappeared today, with the shopowner claiming “he had been returned to his owner”.

“It’s time that we make amendments to the GMC Act,” municipal commissioner S. Vishwanathan told this correspondent today. “We will consult with members of the Animal Welfare Board of India and the state veterinary department to see what laws can be framed to protect animals in pet shops.”

Veterinarians are upset with the way things have been so far. “The GMC Act that regulates all kinds of trading activity in the city is archaic. Today, we have pet shops in almost every locality. The scene was different when the act was passed 41 years back. So, certain bylaws have to be introduced to regulate pet shops and ensure they do not run their business according to their whims and fancies,” said Shankar Lahkar, canine practitioner.

“The veterinary department per se does not have laws to regulate pet shops. But we can always suggest ways and methods to any pet shop owner on how to treat and mai-ntain animals,” Lahkar said.

“To cite a few basics, a pet shop owner must know that the saleable age of a pup has to be above 45 days and the maximum number of days an animal can be kept at the pet shop is five. Then again, two pups of different breeds should not be kept in a three feet-by-four feet enclosure. More importantly, a pup needs to be vaccinated before 45 days and then put up for sale,” he said.

Matt Too obviously didn’t have any of that; the pup stuck in the cage for at least two months before he disappeared today.