Dogs at Cubbon Park: Owners put on leash

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

With the decision of banning dogs in Cubbon Park on hold, dog owners are currently being allowed into the premises only if they have all the necessary equipment required to bag dog excrement. The security personnel have also been mandated to check if the dogs are duly leashed.

While the Horticulture department is making a thorough study of the Animal Welfare Board guidelines which allows the entry of dogs into public parks when they are leashed and walked by an adult, strict rules are being implemented on the Cubbon Park premises.

The dog ban was proposed after the department received consistent complaints from regular walkers. However, the decision was put on hold after a backlash from animal rights activists. The decision on whether a fine will be levied on offenders is yet to be made.

“We have 16 security personnel working the day shift, to safeguard the entire park,” said H.T. Balakrishna, Deputy Director of the Horticulture Department (Cubbon Park), citing a shortage. To tackle the issue, the department has devised a plan to decentralise responsibility. It has come up with a Warden Programme, which will provide official warden ID cards to those who volunteer to ensure the rules are followed.

“These wardens will have the authority to stop the violations and correct dog walkers for their behaviour,” said Balakrishna. If dog parents are caught violating the rules, a picture of both the dog and dog owner will be taken and pasted on a ‘wall of shame’.

Bengaluru Skaters, a community of skaters, recently put up a show in the park premises by skating around holding placards. In support of the awareness campaign initiated by Cubbon Park Canines, the skaters urged pet parents to leash the dogs and clean up their poop.