Animal Husbandry Ministry has directed its chief secretaries to ensure prohibition on sale, breeding or keeping of foreign dog breeds that are mostly used illegal dog fighting. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Dr OP Chaudhary has sent a letter to the chief secretaries of states and union territories to ensure that no licenses or permissions are issued for the sale, breeding and keeping of pit bulls and other breeds which are ‘dangerous for human life’.
This comes after appeals from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India to protect dogs and people, a writ petition filed in the Delhi High Court and representation from citizens, citizen forums, animal forum organisations etc. 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 list includes breeds (including mixed and cross breeds) like Pitbull Terrier, Tosa Inu, Wolf dogs etc. The letter also recommends that dogs which have already been kept as a pet shall be steriliSed so that further breeding is prevented.
PETA India acknowledged this step taken by the Centre for taking a step to safeguard vulnerable dog breeds. Shaurya Agarwal, PETA India Advocacy Associate, says, “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.”
The Centre has also called for enforcement of the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules 2017 and the Pet Shop Rules 2018 and urged local bodies, state animal welfare board and department of animal husbandry to ensure implementation of these which prevent cruelty to animals.