India, Jan. 28 -- Observing the rise of pet parents and lack of adequate healthcare facilities for pets, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday asked the animal husbandry department to set up hospitals for them in every district on public-private partnership. He underscored that the number of hospitals to treat the pets are disproportionate to the rise in the number of people keeping pets at home.

The review meeting with the department was a part of his government's 100-day makeover drive. In the meeting, Fadnavis said the department's many veterinary doctors have the expertise to treat these pets. "These hospitals should be constructed in every district with the help of private participation. It is the need of the hour as the timely...