The Centre has imposed a ban on the import, sale, and breeding of 23 “ferocious” dog breeds.
In a letter, the centre has asked chief secretaries of states and union territories to ensure that no licenses or permissions are issued for dog breeds considered to be a “threat to human life”.
The import of such dog breeds is also recommended to be prohibited by the expert committee formed under the chairmanship of the commissioner of animal husbandry.
The centre has also called for enforcement of the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules 2017 and the Pet Shop Rules 2018 as PETA India warned that most pet shops and breeders are illegal, as they aren’t registered with their state animal welfare boards. They also typically deprive dogs of proper veterinary care and adequate food, exercise, affection, and opportunities for socialisation.
“This order is key toward providing vital protection for both humans and dogs and sends a strong, clear message that pit bulls and other such breeds are bred to be used as weapons. Pit bulls and related breeds are the most commonly abandoned dogs in India, and this action can prevent a great deal of suffering,” Shaurya Agarwal, PETA India Advocacy Associate said.
In India, inciting dogs to fight is illegal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. However, organised dogfights are prevalent in parts of India, making pit bull-type dogs and others used in these fights the most abused dog breeds.
Pit bulls are commonly bred to be used in illegal fighting or kept on heavy chains as attack dogs, resulting in a lifetime of suffering. Many endure painful physical mutilations such as ear-cropping – an illegal process that involves removing part of a dog’s ears to prevent another dog from grabbing them during a fight.
These dogs are encouraged to continue fighting until they become exhausted and at least one is seriously injured or dies. Pit bulls and related breeds are the most commonly abandoned dog breeds in India.
In the 15 years of 2005 through 2019, in the US, pit bulls contributed to 66% (346) of deaths from dogs. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. Severe and fatal attacks by pit bulls and related breeds are also increasingly common in India.
Death due to dog bites is on a rise in the country. A month ago, a toddler was hospitalised for 17 days and had her leg broken in three places after she was bitten by a pit bull in Delhi. In another case, a man was reported to provoke his pit bull to attack his neighbour in the capital.
Meanwhile, a week ago, a pit bull critically injured a ten-year-old child in Ghaziabad. A 70-year-old woman was also severely injured in Haridwar by a pit bull in December. In a famous case, a gym owner’s pit bull killed his mother in Lucknow.
(ANI)
