Concerned with the lack of provisions for conducting final rites of pet animals, a city corporator has demanded that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) provide facilities to cremate or inter the animals after a funeral.
Concerned with the lack of provisions for conducting final rites of pet animals, a city corporator has demanded that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) provide facilities to cremate or inter the animals after a funeral.
Saeeda Khan, NCP corporator from Kurla, has asked the BMC to initiate one such facility in the eastern and western suburbs each, to stop arbitrary ways in which final rites of pets are carried out presently, which is insalubrious.
Khan has moved a notice in this regard before the civic health committee which is scheduled to meet later this month.
"There are scores of residents who have pet dogs, cats or birds. The corporation issues licenses for them. But in the absence of a facility for their funeral rites, people resort to burying their pets' bodies in open spaces or simply dumping them in garbage bins, which may lead to health issues. So there needs to be a provision for this in the suburbs," Khan said in the notice. She also referred to a facility being provided at the state-run J J Hospital in Byculla.
A health department official said, "Let the notice be discussed by the committee first. We will take a decision accordingly."
Animal lovers welcomed the idea, saying such a facility will provide a measure of comfort to grieving pet owners. "Companion animals like dogs and cats become loved members of the family, and their loss is always a traumatic experience. A funeral and adequate arrangements for burial or cremation can provide some comfort during this distressing time," said Sachin Bangera, manager, media and celebrity projects, PETA India.
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