Bengaluru: The recent guidelines issued by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on animal handling, which include a prohibition against resident welfare associations (RWAs) and apartment associations banning pets, have provoked a mixed response across the city’s residential communities. While larger residential complexes have generally welcomed the new regulations, smaller apartment buildings have expressed concerns about the potential implications.
Several large residential complexes, such as Brigade Meadows Plumeria, have embraced the BBMP’s directive by implementing measures like designated pet play areas. An official from Brigade Meadows Plumeria, a complex with 3,000 flats, stated, “Keeping in mind the security of residents and the love for pets, we’ve set up a pet park inside our society. It is under CCTV surveillance. There should be a balance between pet and non-pet parents. Everybody should know the rules properly and as long as the owners can take care of their pets, nobody will be deprived of their right to own a pet.”
The president of Sobha Arena’s management committee echoed this sentiment, expressing support for the guidelines and noting that many pet parents reside in their community. These larger complexes are generally better equipped to manage pets and provide the necessary infrastructure to ensure a harmonious living environment for both pet owners and other residents.
However, smaller apartment complexes have raised safety concerns, arguing that confined spaces can exacerbate pet aggression. The president of Saptagiri Nivas flat owners’ association highlighted several incidents where pet dogs became aggressive, posing risks to the elderly and children. “There are many instances in our apartment of pet dogs getting aggressive and biting the elderly and kids, jumping on people from lifts and more. Neither the owner nor BBMP will bear responsibility for such incidents,” he stated. He further opined that the BBMP did not fully consider the practical challenges faced by smaller apartments before issuing the circular.
The head of the Karnataka Home Buyers Forum suggested a nuanced approach, advocating for rules that consider the distinct challenges faced by smaller apartments compared to larger societies. He proposed that the government could even impose penalties on societies that fail to comply with the pet policy. “The government needs to understand the practicality of the situation in small apartments and bigger societies, and frame rules accordingly,” he said.
As the debate continues, RWAs across Bengaluru are striving to find a balance between protecting the rights of pet owners and addressing the safety concerns of other residents. A member of the Confident Oxygen welfare association mentioned, “We have a few of those guidelines in place already but after the BBMP move, we wanted to impose all (of the guidelines) for our residents’ safety. Our welfare association is also planning a dedicated space for pets and special guidelines for pet parents too.” The BBMP’s guidelines have ignited a significant discussion within Bengaluru’s residential communities, highlighting the need for a balanced and pragmatic approach to pet management in urban living spaces.
