It’s a travesty. It’s happening online and our furry friends are bearing the brunt of it — yes, we are talking about the sale of pets online. The arrangement is gruesome and cruel in its approach, and has shocked pet lovers across the city. This is what prompted biz-whiz Priya Chetty-Rajagopal to start a Bengaluru-based petition to ban the online sale of dogs. #AdoptDontShop is an initiative which aims to offer a respite and a long term solution to illegal, cruel and disgusting puppy mills, commercial home breeding or even sale listings of stolen/missing pets online and net-based pet sales. It has already gotten 14,765 signatures, and the aim is to reach the 15,000 mark to create an impact.
Priya Chetty-Rajagopal
Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, a dog owner and lover wanted to bring about change with the help of this petition. “There has been a tremendous response, and clearly most of us feel deeply about this, and now realise that the laws can prevent this kind of illegal sale. While there is progress, we have a long way to go. We have had our first casualty. Bagheera, the little Lab pup that was sold last month at 21 days with canine distemper, he succumbed painfully, and slowly two days ago. He lies buried. Although his needless death and big wondering eyes hurt us more than we can say, it means we must square our jaws and soldier on, so his tragic death is not in vain. Let’s promise that in our future: #NoMoreBagheeras,” she elaborates.
Pet owners socialise with their dogs.
Many pet lovers share their views about the petition to ban such cruel practices like the online sale of pets. Deliveries for small pets result in health issues like a dehydrated pet, which many a times proves fatal. Pups often die painfully from highly communicable diseases like Parvo or CD from being crammed together in cages. A Law Council report showed an estimated 40 per cent of animals die due to unhealthy and careless transportation. Dinesh Katragada, a student, says, “I think the petition is a perfect example how we need to treat animals as we treat humans — with love and care. Change the roles — what if we were sold online, forced to breed so our offspring can be sold to random strangers with no knowledge of caring for our baby? In some cases, leading to the death of the baby? What if we’re kidnapped and ruthlessly treated for breeding? Animals are meant to be loved and cared for and not a novelty to show status, and sold online.”
But the problem is more than just breeding and commercial gains, it stems from lack of awareness. Animals cannot be used as a commodity even though many believe so. Ashish Chaudhary, a volunteer with an animal shelter in the city opines, “As an animal lover myself, I would say that I am saddened by the fact that dogs are being used as a commodity. They are not to be sold online, and are not to be traded. Such ill practices must be abandoned right away and measures to protect them should be taken immediately.” While Devina Srivastava, a citizen, and volunteer feels the same and says, “Puppy mills can be inhumane and cruel. Adopt a pet. You’ll not only save their lives but you’ll also change their whole world. Let’s not commoditise these four-legged darlings — they have hearts too.”
