Pune’s First Dedicated Dog Park Likely to Take Shape in Kharadi

Pune: Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to establish a dedicated dog park on a plot in Kharadi, following its announcement of the facility in March 2023. This initiative comes after Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation successfully launched its first dog park in January.

The PMC aims to create this dog park to help minimize conflicts between humans and dogs throughout the city. Previous attempts to set up dog parks at two locations—one adjacent to Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Katraj and another in Aundh—were unsuccessful.

The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) denied permission for the Katraj site, citing legal provisions that require zoos to prevent the entry of domestic livestock, stray animals, and pets. Subsequently, the PMC’s health department, which oversees veterinary services, identified a plot in Aundh, but that land was allocated to a different department.

Sarika Funde, head of PMC’s veterinary section, shared, "We had to change two locations, but we hope to get this land. There has been good response from the residents of the area. They want Pune's first dog park near their homes. There are a few rules all dogs must be vaccinated and de-wormed and must be on a leash at all times. Pet lovers will find it a suitable place. Some amenities within the park like the swimming pool could be chargeable, the walking track and other recreational amenities would be free of charge." She added that the Kharadi plot was promised during a recent amenity space meeting, though further details are yet to be finalized. The location was chosen to benefit areas with a high concentration of pet owners.

Simran Raghatwan, a pet owner from Kharadi, expressed optimism: "We hope PMC is serious this time about the dog park. There are so many people with pets these days and dog parks add more recreational space to a city. This will reduce the frequently reported human-dog conflict. PMC must also ensure that the park is not misused and pet parents are held responsible if they do not pick up after their dogs."

The establishment of this dog park is anticipated to provide a safe, enjoyable environment for pets and their owners while fostering harmony between residents and animals in Pune.