HC Urges West Bengal Govt to file Affidavit for Uncontrolled Pet Breeding & Sale

The Calcutta High Court has instructed the West Bengal government to produce an affidavit regarding the enforcement of existing laws against animal cruelty. This order came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) highlighting the issues of unregulated pet breeding and sales, which have resulted in the abandonment of many animals. 

"Proper enforcement of laws against unethical breeding and promoting the ‘adopt, don’t shop’ philosophy are crucial for saving our dogs,” said petitioner Radhika Bose from the CAPE Foundation, an animal rights organization. She pointed out that many puppies are kept in small cages and suffer due to poor conditions imposed by backyard breeders and pet shop owners.

Some breeds on sale, such as the Samoyed and Siberian Husky, are especially unsuitable for the local climate as they are native to colder regions and have adapted with thick fur coats. Calcutta High Court Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam said: “We hope and trust the state of West Bengal will appropriately respond on the next hearing.” No lawyer was present to represent the state when the case was heard on Thursday.

Animal rights activists have raised concerns about the growing issue of pet abandonment, especially with bred dogs being left on city streets. This trend increased after the COVID-19 lockdown, during which many people adopted pets to cope with isolation but later abandoned them when schools and offices reopened. Unfortunately, this pattern appears to have continued into 2024.

Activists report that around 40 out of every 100 purchased dogs are eventually abandoned. “Unlike stray dogs that survive on the streets without much care, pedigree dogs lack resilience and are vulnerable and unable to fend for themselves,” said Prasenjit Bar, owner and animal aid volunteer of Samarpan Animal NGO, Sonarpur. Among the most frequently abandoned dog breeds are Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Huskies, and German Spitz.

While cats also face abandonment, they are generally more adaptable and resilient and have a better chance of surviving on the streets.