Open Access Research Article
ILLEGAL BREEDING OF DOGS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ANIMAL WELFARE RIGHTS
Published Paper
Article Details
ILLEGAL BREEDING OF DOGS: A
CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ANIMAL WELFARE RIGHTS
AUTHORED BY
- VARSHINI VS, 21212264
3rd Year Law
student BBA LLB,
Christ (deemed
to be) University, Delhi NCR
SUMMARY
Illegal dog breeding in India poses serious concerns for animal welfare
and public health. Driven by profit, it mistreats breeding
dogs, leading to health issues in puppies.
Weak regulations enable
substandard breeding and sales, escalating stray dog numbers. Curtailing this requires stringent laws, awareness,
responsible pet practices, and collaboration among stakeholders for a more ethical pet industry. On the other hand,
buying dogs adversely affects street dogs. The demand for specific
breeds supports illegal
breeding and increases the number of strays.
This shifts attention from
helping street dogs, worsening their already
precarious situation. Prioritizing buying over adopting sidelines street
dog welfare.
ABSTRACT
This paper talks about the illegal breeding of dogs and how it leads to
proliferation among the stray dogs
in an indirect way. This paper focuses on the issue of backyard breeding which
is a method of exploitation of
breed dogs which comes under the (Pet Shop) Rules 2018 and (Dog Breeding & Marketing) Rules 2017 and
what actions can be taken on the breeders without license. This does not just cause harm to the breed dogs but
indirectly affects the stray dogs too.
When people tend to pay and buy dogs from these breeders and pet shops, the
concept of adoption is totally pushed
out of the picture where it leads to the increase in population which causes incidents like attacks, bites,
etc., This paper also focuses on why the ‘adoptdontshop’ concept is very important to create a balanced and better
environment for the dogs to survive. This
paper also seeks attention for the rapid and intense implementation of
programmes like ABC and CNR certified
by the government to humanely control their population instead of mass killings and brutally beating them to
death.
KEY WORDS
Animals, Animal Welfare
Laws, Breeders, Dogs, Illegal breeding,
Pets, Stray dogs.
INTRODUCTION
In the name of breeding, the breed dogs are exploited and bred in a
miserable manner by being caged and
kept in a contaminated environment. Once the dogs are no longer fit to reproduce, they’re either abandoned on the
streets or left to die in the breeder’s hand without any medications or proper treatment. Due to the craze and urge
amongst the people to buy breed puppies
that are straight
out from the puppy mills1 to show their wealth and status, these breeds are bought from the breeders
as well as from pet stores at high prices. Most customers are unaware where the puppies are from and the others
are just ignorant.
1 PUPPY MILLS:
THE SICKENING TRUTH BEHIND ILLEGAL
BREEDERS IN INDIA AND HOW YOU CAN STOP THEM DAWGIEBOWL,
https://dawgiebowl.com/blog/puppy-mills-in-india/ (last visited
Apr 21, 2024)
Most of these pet shops and breeders2 are not registered under
the (Pet Shop) Rules 20183 and
(Dog Breeding & Marketing) Rules 20174 which lays down rules
that breeders must possess license to
breed and sell and this is where backyard breeding5 comes into the
picture. In most cases these dogs are
abandoned and end up on roads when their owners are no more interested or cannot afford their normal
and the medical expenses. Since they are not trained and affected by diseases, they tend to mix with the stray dogs and exhibit aggressive6 behaviour which results in dog attacks,
bites and other nuisance created
by them and considered as a menace to the society.
Over the years, activists7 who are willing
to help and rescue the dogs in need are not able to do it due to the ignorance of the
authorities and their lethargic attitude. Even though there are laws and regulations to prevent cruelty to
animals, these people find various loopholes and also illegal ways to get out of it and a grey area always
exists. The reason for this is mainly the absence of proper visits, examination and inspection of the breeding places8.
When there are already so many dogs in need of homes, new puppies are
brought into the market for sales and
the old one remains on the streets, surviving in harsh conditions which makes them aggressive and ferocious9.
This can be avoided if the authorities take proper measures by eliminating the unlicensed breeders and pet shops
and intensely make use of programmes like,
Animal Birth Control (ABC), Catch, Neuter and Release (CNR)10.
BACKYARD CANINE BREEDING RAMPANT DECCAN HERALD,
https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/backyard-canine-breeding-rampant-2665514
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
3 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Notification, 2018
4 The Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules 2017
THE TRUTH ABOUT PUPPY MILLS: WHAT IS UNETHICAL AND ILLEGAL
DOG BREEDING IN INDIA? INDIA TODAY,
https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/the-truth-about-puppy-mills-what-is-unethical-and-illegal-dog-bree
ding-in-india-2426642-2023-08-26
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
GOVT BANS IMPORT, BREEDING, AND SALE OF DANGEROUS DOG
BREEDS INCLUDING PITBULL, BULLDOG. HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST THE ECONOMIC TIMES,
-including-pitbull-bulldog-here-is-the-complete-list/articleshow/108451735.cms?from=mdr#
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
ILLEGAL DOG BREEDING SITE BUSTED AT GHANSOLI, FIVE ANIMALS
RESCUED: MUMBAI NEWS - TIMES OF INDIA THE TIMES OF INDIA,
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/illegal-dog-breeding-site-busted-at-ghansoli-five-animals-rescued/articlesho
w/89378833.cms
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
8 ARE DOG BREEDERS ALWAYS BAD? PETA, https://www.peta.org/features/are-dog-breeders-bad/
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
9 DOG BREEDING LAWS IN INDIA – IS IT LEGAL TO BREED DOGS?
VEGAN INDIA!,
https://www.veganindia.net/dog-breeding-laws-in-india/
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
10 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
Eventually when there’s no proper action taken by the
authorities11, the public tends to take the situation in their hands which resulted
in mass killings12 of street dogs in an inhumane
and brutal way.
DISCUSSION
The global issue of illegal
dog breeding, including
in India, involves
profit-driven and unethical practices that disregard the
well-being and genetic health13 of dogs. In India, the demand for specific
breeds fuels unregulated breeding operations
focused on profit rather than
animal welfare.
This unethical breeding leads to health problems and genetic issues in
breeding dogs and their offspring,
impacting both their physical and mental health. Buyers unknowingly face risks
of acquiring dogs with health or
behavioural issues, causing emotional and financial strain.
The surge in poorly bred puppies worsens the already large population of
stray dogs. This diverts resources
from caring for street dogs and managing their numbers.
Solving this issue necessitates stricter regulations, law enforcement,
and public awareness14. Encouraging adoption
from shelters, responsible pet ownership, and support for ethical breeders
are key to combating illegal breeding.15
Ultimately, addressing illegal dog breeding means fostering a more ethical
approach to pet ownership and
ensuring the well-being of all dogs, regardless of their breeding status.
ILLEGAL DOG BREEDING REMAINS RAMPANT DUE TO LAXITY OF
AUTHORITIES, SAY ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS INDIA TODAY,
-2023-06-01
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
KERALA DOG KILLING: ACTIVISTS DEMAND END TO CRUELTY,
STAGE STIR AT JANTAR MANTAR HINDUSTAN TIMES,
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kerala-dog-killing-activists-demand-end-to-cruelty-stage-stir-at-jan
tar-mantar-101664025158860.html
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
ILLEGAL PUPPY TRADE AND DOGS WITH GENETIC DISORDERS FOUR
PAWS INTERNATIONAL - ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANISATION,
https://www.four-paws.org/campaigns-topics/topics/companion-animals/breeding-of-dogs-with-genetic-disorder
s/the-illegal-puppy-trade-and-its-connection-with-genetic-disorders
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
IF DOGS ARE OUR BEST FRIENDS, WHY ARE THERE PUPPY MILLS?
PSYCHOLOGY TODAY,
-puppy-mills
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
BAN ILLEGAL BREEDING OF DOGS RATHER THAN SPECIFIC BREEDS,
DOG OWNERS TELL CENTRE INDIA TODAY,
SOLUTION
Addressing
illegal dog breeding in India requires strong laws that enforce ethical practices
and safeguard animal welfare. Enhancing current legislation and introducing
targeted laws can effectively curb unethical breeding:
1. Compulsory Licensing and Registration16: Enforce strict licensing criteria
for breeders, ensuring
compliance with animal care standards. Regular inspections and thorough records of breeding dogs and
facilities can maintain adherence.
2. Law Enforcement and Penalties: Empower
authorities to closely monitor breeding sites and pet outlets,
imposing significant penalties
for illegal practices
to deter unethical
behavior.
3. Regulation of Online Sales17: Introduce
rules governing online pet sales, ensuring transparency in breeders' backgrounds and animal health records while ensuring compliance with legal breeding standards.
4. Promotion of Responsible Ownership18: Laws
mandating education on responsible pet
ownership before acquiring a dog can reduce impulsive purchases and subsequent abandonment.
5. Support for
Adoption and Shelter Systems19: Incentivize shelter
adoptions over buying from breeders or stores, potentially offering subsidies or tax benefits
to encourage adoption.
6. Collaboration and Awareness
Campaigns: Foster collaboration among law enforcement, animal welfare groups, and
the public to raise awareness about ethical breeding
practices and responsible pet ownership.
7. Establishment of Breeding Standards: Develop
clear guidelines emphasizing the well-being of breeding dogs and their offspring.
8. Tighter Controls on Import/Export20: Enforce stricter controls on dog import/export to prevent illegal breeding
operations from crossing borders.
REGULATIONS RELATED TO DOG BREEDING IN INDIA. IPLEADERS,
https://blog.ipleaders.in/dog-breeding-regulation/
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
NATUREWATCH FOUNDATION CAMPAIGNS | NATUREWATCH FOUNDATION
- ANIMAL WELFARE NATUREWATCH,
https://naturewatch.org/campaigns/
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
INCREASE IN PIT BULL ATTACKS, EXPERTS SAY “STOP ILLEGAL
BREEDING, TRAIN DOGS, EDUCATE OWNERS ABOUT BREED” - TIMES OF INDIA THE TIMES OF
INDIA,
ADOPT TO ENSURE ILLEGAL BREEDERS SHUT SHOP BANGALORE
MIRROR,
https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/adopt-to-ensure-illegal-breeders-shut-shop/articleshow/
93261320.cms
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
MADRAS HIGH COURT QUASHES NOTIFICATION BANNING IMPORT
OF DOGS FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES LIVE LAW,
-import-of-dogs-for-commercial-activities-230452
(last visited Apr 21, 2024)
Implementing comprehensive measures supported by stringent laws,
effective enforcement, and public
awareness can significantly reduce the problem of illegal dog breeding in
India.
CONCLUSION
Buying dogs inadvertently worsens the situation for street dogs in
several ways. The demand for specific
breeds fuels illegal
breeding, diverting resources
from street dog care. Additionally, choosing to buy instead of adopting reinforces stigma against street
dogs, hindering their
adoption and population management efforts. Financially supporting buying dogs leads to unethical breeding, adding
to the population of poorly bred dogs, potentially contributing to the street dog population. Ultimately, purchasing
dogs perpetuates the neglect faced by street dogs, highlighting the importance of
promoting adoption and responsible ownership
to break this cycle.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This paper was not funded by anyone.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
The author has no conflicts of interest.
LITERATURE CITED
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Krithika Srinivasan, The Biopolitics of Animal Being and Welfare: Dog
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Abhishek Anand, Illegal
dog breeding remains
rampant due to laxity of
authorities, say animal rights activists, India Today (Editorial), Jun 1, 2023, doi: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/illegal-dog-breeding-issue-animal-rights-activist-huskie s-pitbulls-2386686-2023-06-01
Nivedita Shenoy,
Dog lovers or pedigree lovers? The ugly truth about illegal dog breeding, WION (Editorial), Jul 27, 2022 doi: https://thesocialtalks.com/opinion/dog-lovers-or-pedigree-lovers-the-ugly-truth-about-illegal- dog-breeding/
Kabir Gama-Roy v. Goa State Animal Welfare
Board, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 255,
Article Information
ILLEGAL BREEDING OF DOGS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ANIMAL WELFARE RIGHTS
Authors: VARSHINI VS
- Journal IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Published 2024/04/24
- Issue 7
About Journal
International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis
- Abbreviation IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
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