Pet dogs banned from Bengaluru's Cubbon Park, animal lovers object

Bengaluru dog lovers and pet owners objected sharply to a proposal by authorities to ban the entry of pet dogs into Cubbon Park, one of the largest green spaces in Bengaluru, from July 1.

Published on: Jun 28, 2022, 14:36:52 IST

By Yamini C S | Edited by Chandrashekar Srinivasan

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A heated debate has broken out after city authorities proposed a ban on dogs entering Bengaluru's Cubbon Park starting July 1. Pet owners and dog lovers from the city conveyed their strong objection to the move by the horticulture department and called it a 'harsh decision', news agency ANI reported.

In a controversial decision, the horticulture department has put in a proposal prohibiting the entry of pet dogs into Bengaluru's Cubbon park,

Animal lovers took to social media to oppose the decision and shared a petition to force city authorities to allow pet dogs into the landmark 'lung' area of the city. The petition already has over 18,500 signatures.

The horticulture department reportedly took the step to preserve the natural cover in the park, which some joggers and frequent visitors have complained is being compromised because of litter and pet waste.

The department - which is yet to take a final decision - said the controversial proposal was requested by environment lovers who frequent the park and noticed that at least 30 per cent dog owners do not follow guidelines prescribed to keep the park clean, despite banners being placed around the premises.

These guidelines convey that pet dogs should be on a leash, their owners should collect their poop, and that they are prohibited on the lawn area.

HT Balakrishna, deputy director of the Horticulture department (Cubbon Park), told ANI, "Since last year, many members requested to ban entry of pet dogs in Cubbon Park. On June 14, it was decided to create awareness about the guidelines of the Animal Welfare Board of India and the Department of Animal Husbandry for pet dogs' owners."

"We placed banners, displaying the guidelines. But around 30% of owners won't follow guidelines. So, people made the request. Now, government contemplating banning pet dogs' entry from July 1, but final decision is yet to be taken," Balakrishna added.

(With inputs from ANI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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