Mumbai businessman Ashish Goyal has approached the Bombay High Court after his housing society barred his blind dog, Ozzy, from using the residential lifts. Goyal, 51, has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking justice for his beloved pet and animal rights across housing societies in India.
The issue began at Goyal’s Lower Parel society, Marathon Era CHS, a sprawling complex of four 36-storey towers, where six lifts service residents. According to society rules, lifts 1, 2, and 3 are reserved exclusively for members, tenants, and their guests, while lifts 4, 5, and 6 are designated for staff and service providers.
Trouble started on January 14, 2024, when Goyal was stopped from using one of the resident lifts while accompanied by Ozzy. A society member accused him of breaking the rules by allowing a dog in the lift, sparking a series of hostile incidents against pet owners within the society. Matters worsened when the society issued strict pet policies that Goyal claims violate the Animal Welfare Board of India’s guidelines and the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act.
Ozzy’s story is nothing short of inspiring. Four years ago, the blind puppy was rescued after falling into a pond. Goyal, moved by the dog’s plight, immediately adopted him, offering him not just a home, but a family. For Goyal, Ozzy is not just a pet but a member of his family deserving of dignity and care.
“Despite clear laws protecting animals, enforcement is weak,” said Siddh Vidya, Goyal’s lawyer. “This PIL is not just about one man and his dog—it’s about upholding the rights and humane treatment of all animals.”
Goyal’s legal fight brings into focus an important conversation about empathy, inclusion, and the responsibilities of modern housing societies toward animals and pet owners. It reminds everyone that kindness should not be confined by walls, gates, or lift doors.
As the case awaits hearing, Goyal’s stand is a powerful lesson: compassion should have no barriers. Every life, whether human or animal, deserves respect, dignity, and kindness.