Recently Goa Police has advised Senior Citizens and others staying alone to own pets specially dogs for better safety. It is a very sensible and useful suggestion. Dogs are very sensitive and can easily sense the presence of strangers and warn the inmates by barking. Now having pets has been ruled by Courts in various cities as constitutional right of owners.
Housing Societies or it’s members cannot make laws banning flat/bungalow owners from owning pets. Neither they can be prevented from using lifts, common corridors and roads provided they are accompanied by the owners or the family members tied to a leash.
Societies that have passed such adverse laws or charge monthly fee have been penalized by imposing on them fines ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000. Also these laws violate animal rights leading to cruelty, thus creating another serious punishable offence.
However it must be said that only those people who genuinely love pets and are willing to fulfill all the obligations such regular vaccination against rabbis and other infectious diseases should opt for pets. Also pets should not be a nuisance to neighbors. So it is worth having a good watchdog at home.
Antonio Diniz, Fatorda
