Several citizens going for morning and evening walks on hills have complained about pet dogs causing trouble for walkers as the owners let them free. Citizens complained that people often leave their pet dogs unchained, resulting in the canines wandering around the hill. Citizens have complained about dogs barking at passersby and sometimes fighting among each other. Citizens have also said that dogs excrete on the hills and dirty the walkway. Hence, the forest department is planning to ban people from bringing pet dogs to hills in Pune.
Rajendra Kadam, deputy conservator of forest, said “We have already installed boards on all hills in Pune requesting citizens not to bring pet dogs to the hills as it causes inconvenience to others. Despite this, some of them still bring their pets to the hills. Hence, we may be forced to enforce the ban. According to the Forest Protection Act, citizens are not allowed to enter protected areas of the forest. However, as most of the hills are situated in the core city limits, we have granted permission to citizens without any restrictions. Over the past few years, the practice of bringing pet dogs on the hills has also increased. None of the public gardens run by the Pune Municipal Corporation allow pets inside the garden. Hence, the forest department may also think on similar lines and ban pets on hills.”
Forest department have asked the pet owners to give in writing to the forest department that their pets will not create any irritation on the hill and that they will not unchain the dog nor allow them to roam free.
