The animal welfare board of India has appealed all the citizens of India not to stray their pets under the fear of COVID-19.
In an appeal made to the public, the board said, “If anybody is caught doing so, then he or she will be under strict penalty under Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act, 1960 and violation of the direction of the Supreme Court.”
A letter stating the above-mentioned matter has been sent to the chief secretaries of all the states of India.
The letter also stated that nowadays it is frequently seen that the pet parents abandon their pets due to the prevailing fear of COVID-19.
On the other hand, Just Be Friendly (JBF), a Guwahati-based animal welfare organization has started to spread awareness among the general public that animal cannot carry or spread COVID-19.
The chairman of Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) OP Choudhury has circulated a letter to the Chief Secretaries of all the states and to the municipal boards and town committees of India inserting an advisory that animal cannot carry or spread Coronavirus.
The same statement has been circulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well.
As per AWBI instructions, JBF has been spreading awareness through every possible manner.
Concerning the matter, JBF’s chief functionary Sashanka Sekhar Dutta has requested the people not to abandon their pets due to the fear of coronavirus.
He also suggested taking veterinary professionals consultation if the pet parent witnesses any unnatural symptoms of his/ her pet rather abandoning it.
“Tough times are meant to fight together rather abandoning each other. Kindly stay at home and keep your pets with you,” the JBF urged the people.