Over 50 Animals Rescued From Unlicensed Koramangala Pet Shop

Bengaluru City Police and the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) rescued over 50 animals and birds from an unlicensed pet shop operating in deplorable conditions in Koramangala on May 31 and June 1. The joint action followed a complaint by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India regarding the confinement and mistreatment of various species at the establishment.

PETA India filed complaints with the Bengaluru Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), the Koramangala and Adugodi police stations, and the Karnataka Animal Husbandry Department. The organization's volunteers had documented the poor conditions, which included the sale of days-old chickens dyed in bright colours. Following the complaint, the Chief Veterinary Officer served a legal notice to the pet shop on June 1 for operating without a mandatory licence and violating the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

The rescue operation was carried out in phases. On May 31, authorities supported by the police rescued 46 chicks and one hamster suffering from an eye infection. The animals were immediately sent for medical treatment.

In a separate operation on June 1, authorities rescued additional birds from the shop. These included one lovebird with a leg deformity, two visibly sick and distressed cockatiels, one jenday conure, and one sun conure. The rescued jenday conure and sun conure are CITES Appendix II species and fall under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Sinchana Subramanyan, PETA’s Senior Cruelty Response Coordinator, urged decisive action against illegal pet shops. "We have urged the concerned authorities, particularly the District SPCA, to take stringent and decisive action against all illegal pet shops operating without the requisite licences and permissions," Subramanyan said, adding that citizens can help by refusing to buy from pet stores and breeders.