Centre bans 'dangerous' dog breeds: Activists question who make them dangerous

Centre bans ‘dangerous’ dog breeds: Activists question who make them dangerous

Following appeals from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India to protect dogs and people and a writ petition filed in the Delhi High Court, 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 urging the local bodies, and the department of animal husbandry, to ensure that no licenses or permissions are issued for the sale, breeding and keeping of pit bulls and other breeds deliberately bred for aggression and commonly used for illegal fighting and attack.

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.

PETA COMMENDS CENTRE’S EFFORTS TO PROTECT DOGS AND PEOPLE

PETA India applauded the Centre for taking this step to safeguard vulnerable dog breeds commonly exploited by criminal elements of society for illegal dogfighting, as well as children and elderly citizens who are wounded and even killed by specific types of dogs that are manipulated and trained to consider other living beings “prey”.

Shaurya Agarwal, PETA India Advocacy Associate, says, “This order is key to 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.”

PERSISTENT ISSUE DESPITE LEGAL RESTRICTIONS

In India, inciting dogs to fight is illegal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Yet 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.

CENTRE CALLS FOR STRICT IMPLEMENTATION OF ANIMAL WELFARE LAWS

The Centre has also called for enforcement of the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules 2017 and the Pet Shop Rules 2018 as PETA India warns 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, and opportunities for socialisation.

PETA INDIA PROMOTES ADOPTION OF INDIE BREEDS

PETA India encourages those with the time, patience, love, and resources to welcome a dog into their home to adopt an Indian community dog or Indies, known for their loving nature, from an animal shelter or the streets.

The dogs the committee has deemed prohibited include breeds (including mixed breeds and cross-breeds) like pit bull terriers, other such terriers, Tosa Inu, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, American bulldog, Boerboel, Kangal, various shepherd dogs, Tornjak, Bandog, Sarplaninac, Japanese Tosa, Akita, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Rhodesian Ridgeback, wolf dogs, Canario, Akbash and Moscow Guarddog.

ANIMAL ADVOCATE ASKS: WHY BRAND THEM DANGEROUS?

“The initiative here by the government is appreciated to accept the term used here as ‘dangerous’. All dogs are docile. No animal is aggressive. They are all newborns/infants/puppies. They become dangerous as they are trained by the humans to behave in a certain way for the use of dog fights, etc.”, says Niharika Kashyap, Animal Advocate.

She also emphasised that humans bear full responsibility for an animal’s behaviour. “Even the mighty lion, revered as the king of the jungle and a natural hunter, can be seen posing for photos and displaying friendly behaviour in places like Thailand, Bali, and Indonesia,” she says.

Kashyap mentions that humans have been misbehaving and then blaming/derogating the reputation of animals who are not allowed to even behave according to their traits.

“Banning of such breeds should be categorised as illegal/unlicensed breeders by not as a dangerous dog breed of the breed of the breed. A ban shall be on the breeders and this should be implemented with the prospective effect of not affecting pet owners having dogs of the categorised breed”, says Kashyap.

She sums up by noting that animals are vulnerable and deserve to be treated with the utmost care and privilege in every circumstance, as they cannot defend themselves.

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