Families that are looking to get pets often approach pet stores or breeders, thinking that this is the ideal way to get a puppy. What they don't know is that the breeding industry is an unregulated one and that there are no systems in place to prevent exploitation of dogs. Says Anuradha Sawhney, co-opted member of the Animal Welfare Board of India – “Breeders use female dogs as machines. Many keep them pregnant constantly so that by the time the dogs are 2 to 3 yrs old, they have given birth to 4 to 5 litters - they have teats that have sunk to the floor, they have no energy left in them. They are emaciated and die early deaths. This is what would happen to our mothers, daughters and sisters if they were to give birth every 9 months”. In the breeding scenario, it is not just the mothers that are affected. Foreign (and even Indian pedigree) puppies that are selectively bred face serious risks due to artificial gene selection. While a certain physical characteristic (such as a pure white fur coat, a specific eye colour or body shape) is enhanced to suit our fancy, a severe health defect could come with it. Added to the problem is the fascination for breeds such as Siberian Huskies and St. Bernards that struggle through our summers.
If you are looking to get a puppy, there is a humane option at hand – adoption of local breeds that are commonly found in animal shelters.
Native breeds are naturally equipped to deal with India's often-harsh tropical climate, thanks to their short fur coats. They also have tough immune systems and live longer in their natural environment. Those who are particular about certain pedigree breeds also have the option of bringing home abandoned pedigree adult dogs from shelters such as CUPA. Vivienne Choudhury, management committee member of In Defense of Animals, Mumbai reveals that the past few years have been good for the furry kind. “For a long time, every enquiry about adoption started with- ‘Do you have a Labrador'? Replace the last word with Great Dane, German Shepherd and so on. Nowadays, this is not so common and people are actually adopting Indian pups”. She is quick to add that there is still a long way to go but from the soaring adoption numbers, it appears that Indian pet-owners have already taken the first step in the right direction.
(Adoption camps for vaccinated, local breed puppies are held every Sunday by the NGO Let's Live Together at # 30, Karthika Clinic, 3rd Main, Rammohanpuram, Devaiahpark, near Malleshwaram. Call 9986413916 for more details on ‘Indian Sundays').
