The Secretary of the AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying sent a circular to all the states and the Union Territories of India on 1st May 2020, which said that once the lockdown restrictions are removed the pet shop owners and the dog breeders have to get themselves registered with their respective State Animal Welfare Boards and only then they shall be allowed to open their shops or continue with the breeding of the dogs.
In India, the animal sector is quite unorganized and there are many pet shops and breeders who in a very inhuman manner use the animals just for monetary gains. They just use them and throw them to die once they are of no use to them.
Ideally dog marketing and breeding should not be happening in a country like India where there are already millions of Indian dogs roaming homeless on the streets of India. Nevertheless, the Board should also ensure time and again that these pet shops and breeders follow all the guidelines and protocols under the prevention of cruelty to animals act (Dog breeding & Marketing rules 2018).
This letter is the persistent effort of HSI &PFA India. For the details of the letter kindly go to the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/219997321729916/posts/1004170186645955/
India still brings hope for the man's best friend. There are good hearted people and one becomes optimistic when such heroism and kindness is shown by young children of India.
A small Indian boy saved a puppy's life from drowning in a well by going into the well and getting the pup out. Watch the most beautiful and heart touching video of the boy rescuing the puppy:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1541270492717625&id=100005040668677
We not only salute the couragous and compassionate boy but also his parents and guardians who didn't hesitate once in sending their boy into the well. This should be an eye opener to all the so called educated and rich people in the cities of India who either tie their pets in scorching hot sun outside their gates or abandon them due to sickness, old age or recently killed them and abandoned them due to fear of COVID 19. Shame on them.
In another incident an Indian man with his boy were seen in a cart with their pet dog. They were taking the dog to the vet for getting him vaccinated for rabies. Kindly watch the fantastic video which every Indian is proud of:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2266599630037428/permalink/3279149315449116/
Has education destroyed the Indians living in cities? It is mostly the urbanised lot who have been seen indulging in dog cruelty. Sometimes in the name of rabies and sometimes in the name of swachhta (cleanliness).
Its time the AWBI should come out with guidelines on dog management in educational institutions in India. They should also coordinate with the HRD (Human Resource Development) Ministry and introduce the prevention of cruelty to animal act in both school and college syllabus.
India is the land of Budhha, Mahavira and Mahatma Gandhi and by in large Indians are compassionate and non violent across all religions, caste and creed. But it seems the lack of knowledge about the laws and myths attached with dogs, especially Indian dogs has created so much of hatred and fear in the minds of the educated in India.
Our honourable ministers, politicians and even policeman and bureaucrats have all received education in may be best of colleges in India but hardly any of them has ever been taught by their teacher how to behave with a dog in the campus or outside the campus. They have never been taught Dog rules 2001 or the prevention of cruelty to animals act 1960.
That is probably the main reason why in spite of their best efforts they are failing the dogs of India and the caregivers of India again and again and again.....