India Bans Import of Dogs for Breeding, Other Commercial Activities

New Delhi: The government has banned import of dogs for breeding or any other commercial activity in India. However, imports will still be allowed for internal security by the defence and police force.

The import is also allowed for specific purposes such as pet dog with valid pet book and relevant records/documents in the name of importer; dogs imported by the R&D organisations for conducting research with the recommendation of Committee for the Purpose of Control And Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA).

Welcoming the ban on import of dogs for breeding or any other commercial activity, animal rights bodies on Wednesday hoped that government complements this decision by implementing rules to regulate pet shops and breeders.

Humane Society International India and People for Animals claimed that the lack of ban was earlier resulting in overpopulation of street dogs in India and had led to breed dogs suffering due to difference in climatic condition.

A large number of dogs that are not suitable for the country's tropical climate such as St Bernards, Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes and others were being imported by breeders in India.

"We commend DGFT for this historic ban which will prevent the suffering of thousands of dogs. Our shelters are inundated with cases of abandoned imported breed dogs which are usually due to poor understanding of the breed's requirement.

"We now hope that the government complements this decision by enacting the Pet Shop and Breeder regulations as recommended by the Law Commission of India," said Gauri Maulekhi, HSI India consultant and PFA Trustee, in a statement.

HSI said that in 2015, the Law Commission had published a report on the 'Need to Regulate Pet Shops and Dog Breeding and Aquarium Fish Breeding' recommending that the central government regulate the trade in pet shops and dog and aquarium fish breeding practices.

It also recommended the government to take cognizance of the issue. The pet shop, dog breeding and aquarium fish breeding rules are pending notification with the government, the statement said.

DGFT in its notification also said that the import of dogs is allowed only for the specific purposes such as pet dog with valid pet book and relevant records or documents in the name of importer or those imported by R and D organisations for conducting research with the recommendation of committee for the Purpose of Control And Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA).

(With PTI inputs)