Bengaluru: There are over 400 dog breeders in Bengaluru and there is not-so-good news awaiting them. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has just put out a new rules to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1960, which will make the rules that will make life tougher for them, and invited comments.
The new rules require all breeders to register themselves with the State Animal Welfare Boards. They lay down stringent norms for breeding, maintenance of facilities including accommodation, food and medical services for dogs.
The new rules require registered dog breeders not to sell pups less than eight weeks in age. Dogs aged over six months should be sold only after sterilisation, unless they are sold to another registered dog breeder.
Dogs and pups are not allowed to be sold for use in experiments, unless the purchaser is a breeder registered with the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals constituted under Section 15 of the Act.
Furthermore, no female dog should be exploited to produce more than five litters in her life span. The breeder has to ensure that each dog is micro-chipped and complete medical record of the animal including vaccination is maintained. More importantly, no breeder is allowed to breed a litter unless he has pre-screened candidates on a waiting list for the puppies.
An even tougher rule is that the breeder is required to screen the buyers for their ability to take proper care of the dog, particularly if the breed is a large one, including its rooming, socialising, spatial needs, including veterinary services, and can take of the expenses of upkeep and maintenance.
According to Nihal Narayan, a breeder form the city, this move is only going to result in a backlash from breeders and the Kennel Club of India (KCI) as many associated services such as veterinary services, boarding, dog food manufacturers are going to be affected.
“These rules are absurd and the laws draconian. One of the rules says we cannot dock or crop certain breeds. It happens in the US. Why can’t we do it here. If this is the way they want to prevent cruelty then they must ban neutering as well. But of course they won’t do that,” Nihal said.
It will also be the responsibility of the breeder to keep track of the progress of the dogs, and their health, at least once in a year. The rules will be notified in the Gazette of India and after a month, the ministry will make undertake steps to make the rules part of the 1960 Act.
The new stringent rules are not likely to be to the liking of the breeders, and the Kennel Club of India which on its website features an article by Canadian breeder Catherine MacMillan under the title “The Right to Breed.”
