How we got a ban on importing exotic dog breeds

Today, success is measured by as much as the clothes on someone's back as the dog(s) at their feet. Exotic breeds such as St Bernards, Siberian Huskies, Chihuahuas and Alaskan Malamutes have been transformed into society's latest show ponies whose master's privilege is determined by the purity of their bloodline.

Loyalty and love - traits that defined man's best friend are no longer enough for the society. A dog is worth his or her weight in show dog trophies or the number of litters sired or produced. However, the increased influx of "foreign pedigrees" are every animal lover's nightmare because these dogs are adopted and then abandoned with equal ease.

Fortunately, following concerted efforts by Humane Society International/India and People for Animals, the Central government has banned the import of dogs for commercial purposes, with the following exceptions.

1. Those that own pets abroad and can furnish valid ownership documents and pet records.

2. Import of dogs for research, only by those organisations that have been given the green light by the CPCSEA.

3. For use by the defence/police forces.

This judgment holds the key to ending the cruelties perpetrated on thousands of dogs by unscrupulous breeders. Pedigree dogs are bred to possess certain selected traits that are in line with a "breed standard". Only those that exhibit those traits are classified as "pure bred" which makes it essential to breed the dogs within a closed gene pool. As a result of breeding over generations, various breeds are now predisposed to certain ailments and illnesses, some of which can be life-threatening.

For example, hip dysplasia is a common disease among Retrievers, German Shepherds and St Bernards. Breeds characterised by their short muzzles like pugs and bulldogs suffer from breathing difficulties and overheating. The adorable folds on a Shar Pei's face result in severe dermatological problems that may even require corrective surgery.

Working dogs like Huskies and St Bernards which have thick coats meant for ice and snow are subjected to the heat of the tropics, which makes even a short walk outdoors a tiring affair. Small breeds like Cocker Spaniels and Beagles that can fit in small-sized apartments require lots of exercise and attention.

Health problems aside, the breeding industry (or puppy mills) are canine hellholes. Unscrupulous breeders raise dogs for the sole purpose of selling as many puppies as they can extract from a dog, with little or no gap between consecutive litters, which can cause mammary tumours and prolapsed uteruses. Very often, dogs are kept in cages, with little or no access to food or water. When they lose their ability to produce "quality" puppies or are diagnosed with illnesses, they are very often abandoned or die as a result of neglect.

Now that dogs can no longer be imported for commercial purposes, businesses that thrive on breeding of dogs for profit have been dealt a major blow. While breeders complain that prices will rise, it must be noted that the upkeep of these dogs is expensive. Hence, this will ensure that only those people who have previous experience with the dogs in question, as well as the wherewithal to pay for their maintenance will now be able to own such dogs.

While this notification will bring enormous relief to countless hapless dogs and animal welfare organisations and shelters, the onus of enforcement lies with the customs department. Tools that enable enforcement must be designed and the department must be endowed with the power to clamp down on those that attempt to bypass this rule.

The next step should be to ensure that the draft Pet Shop, Dog Breeding and Aquarium Fish Breeding Rules be notified immediately. Among many things, these rules make it mandatory for breeders to register animals meant for commercial breeding purposes with local authorities.

In the meantime, if you have space in your heart and home for an animal, consider opening your doors to one of the scores of abandoned pedigreed animals languishing in shelters. Better still, you can also adopt a sturdy "Indian" dog, which is acclimatised to the country's weather and is known to be a healthy, hardy breed, if one may call it that. You'll find that "Made in India" can be a wonderful thing.