Animal husbandry department asked to shut down dog breeding unit: OIPA demands FIR and rescue of abused

animals Naresh Kadyan.

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued a notice to the state animal husbandry department asking them to shut down the dog breeding unit at Saidapet. The notice was based on a report filed by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) which found that the dogs were underfed and confined continuously. PETA found that dogs were diseased and dying due to neglect. Based on a few media reports and complaints from visitors, the Animal Welfare Board had requested PETA to do an investigation of the unit and submit a report. "They had senior veterinarians and manpower in their organisation. They did a thorough investigation and submitted a report to us in July," said Uma Rani, secretary of the AWBI. "Based on this report, we have written to the animal husbandry department asking for the operation to be shut down as soon as possible," said Rani. "We have also asked for the dogs in their care to be released for rehabilitation and offered our assistance in the procedure," she added. The PETA report, which was submitted along with the letters demanding closure in August, stated that the dogs were found to be treated cruelly and were in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. "Several dogs were suffering from dermatitis and other skin diseases like mange," says Dr Manilal Valliyate, director of veterinary affairs with PETA who visited the unit in the last week of June. "The constant confinement and lack of exercise has made them suffer from chronic anxiety and depression," he said while showing pictures of dogs housed in kennels alone or with just one dog. The kennels were found to be in a filthy condition with faeces and urine. PETA said they found that the dogs were fed only once a day against the prescription that they need to be fed twice a day. The water was also replenished only once a day instead of making water available throughout the day. "This leads to them suffering from gastritis and acidity," said Dr Valliyate. They also claimed that they found puppies often contracting leptospirosis, kennel cough, pneumonia and other respiratory infections. They accused the unit of selling dogs for very cheap prices to buyers without doing background checks which often put them in abusive environments. "There are reports that dogs bought are resold in the market for higher prices," he said. The unit sells a male Labrador puppy at Rs 1,800, a male Doberman puppy at Rs 1,750 and a Rottweiler male puppy at Rs 8,450. The Indian species are even cheaper. The dog breeding unit was established 30 years ago by the state government to reintroduce native species of dogs like Rajapalayam, Chippiparai, Kombai and Kanni. Today the centre only breeds Rajapalayams and Chippiparais and has introduced a few pedigree breeds like Labradors, Rottweilers, Dobermans and even Dalmatians.

The introduction of pedigree breeds was also a point of contention. "At a centre established for native breed dogs, why are they promoting pedigree dogs? Every dog that gets bought takes away a community pup's chance of being adopted," says Dr Valliyate. PETA and the Animal Welfare Board of India say they have written to the animal husbandry department, but they haven't got a reply. The department says they have just spent Rs 30 lakh on renovations to the centre and are studying the report to see the deficiencies. "We received the report only two days ago," said a senior official. "We are studying it to make a note of more improvement that are required," he added. The official said the "centre is very useful for families looking to buy a dog with papers but can not afford exorbitant rates that breeders charge." Times of India reporting.

The United Nation affiliated the International Organisation for Animal Protection OIPA in India asked the PETA, why they have not lodged FIR against the animal abuser after rescuing the abused animals?, AWBI needs to be asked the Commissioner of Police, Chennai to book the Incharge responsible of this breeding center for the violation of the PCA Act, 1960 and rescue all abused animals, local SPCA can do but why SPCA was silent on this issue for a long period, their explanation may kindly be called Naresh Kadyan, Representative of OIPA www.oipa.org in India.