Written By Geervani M (Grade 10)
In the last few years, more and more families in India have been getting pets, especially dogs. But there’s a big problem that many people don’t see: some people, called the dog breeding mafia, are involved in illegal activities related to breeding dogs. Instead of treating dogs kindly and responsibly, these people only care about making money, which can hurt the dogs and their health.
Many people in India really want purebred dogs, like Pugs, Beagles, Labradors, and German Shepherds, more than ever before. This is happening because more families have more money, more people are living in cities, and more people want pets. Things like social media, content creators, and movies have made these dogs look cool and special to have, so people want them. However, this demand has also given rise to a black market where dogs are bred under inhumane conditions, often by people who have little to no knowledge of responsible breeding practices. This unregulated and largely hidden industry is commonly referred to as the “dog breeding mafia.”
Puppy mills are majorly where dogs are treated very badly. In these places, many dogs live in small cages and don’t have enough room to move around or play. They don’t get to see other dogs or people, and they don’t get the care that they need to be healthy. The mommy dogs have puppies over and over again without enough time to rest. When they can’t have puppies anymore, sometimes they are just left behind or hurt.
Some bad people secretly trade dogs in a way that is against the law. They move puppies from one place to another, sometimes even from other countries like Nepal and Bangladesh. These puppies are kept in tight and uncomfortable spaces, which makes it hard for them to stay healthy, and many of them unfortunately don’t survive. The puppies that do make it are sold to people who don’t know where they came from.
The dog-breeding mafia tries to trick people into thinking their puppies are healthy and come from good families. They do this by making fake papers, like vaccination records and family trees for the dogs. Because of this, they can sell the puppies for more money, fooling buyers into believing they are getting a better dog. Because of the internet and social media, people who breed dogs are now able to find more buyers. They use websites and apps to show off puppies for sale, but there aren’t many rules to keep things safe. This means that people who want to buy a puppy might end up getting tricked by sellers who take their money and then vanish.
The dog breeding mafia does bad things that hurt not just the dogs, but also people. One big problem is that the dogs are treated very poorly. They live in terrible places that make them sick and scared. The puppies born in these bad situations are often weak and don’t get enough food, so they can get sick. Sadly, many of them don’t live long after being sold. Some dog breeders don’t take good care of their dogs when they have puppies. They sometimes breed dogs that are too closely related or have too many puppies. This can make the puppies sick or give them problems that make them feel bad or live shorter lives. Because of this, people may have to spend a lot of money on vet visits to help their dogs.
Some dogs are kept in dirty places and don’t get the medical help they need. This can make it easy for diseases, which may be transmitted from animals to people, to spread. One of these diseases is rabies, which is a big problem in India because many people get bitten by dogs. The people who breed dogs don’t take care of them or give them vaccinations this is making the problem worse and putting everyone’s health at risk.
In India, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, provide a legal framework for the protection of animals. However, enforcement of these laws remains a significant challenge. The dog breeding mafia often operates in the shadows, making it difficult for authorities to monitor and regulate their activities.
The Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017, introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, were a step in the right direction. These rules mandate that all dog breeders must register with the State Animal Welfare Board and adhere to specific standards regarding the care and breeding of dogs. However, the implementation and enforcement of these rules have been inconsistent, allowing illegal breeders to continue their operations without any regulations.
Police departments often don’t have enough people or money to deal with the big problem of illegal dog breeding. They rarely go after these breeding places; when they do, the punishments for the people running them are usually not very strong. Because of things like corruption and people not knowing enough about the problem, businessmen who breed dogs illegally keep getting away with it. One of the best ways to fight against inhumane dog breeders is to help people understand what’s really happening. By teaching people about dog breeding and telling them how important it is to adopt dogs from shelters instead of buying them from breeders, we can help stop the problem. This way, fewer people will want to buy dogs that are treated poorly.
Groups like PETA India, the Humane Society International, and local animal helpers are working hard to tell people about the problem of bad dog breeders. They do fun activities, and classes, and share messages online to teach everyone how to take care of pets properly and why it’s better to adopt animals from shelters instead of buying them.
More and more people are learning about the do breeding mafia, so now people want to find good breeders or adopt dogs instead. Good breeders care a lot about their dogs. They make sure the dogs are born in a safe and clean place and get the right medical help when they need it. They also check to make sure that the families who want to take the dogs home will love and take good care of them. More people are choosing to adopt pets from animal shelters and rescue groups. These places help dogs that have been saved from bad situations like puppy mills and people who breed dogs in harmful ways. When someone adopts a dog, they help that animal get a new, happy home and also help stop breeders who mistreat animals.
Fighting against puppy mills in India is a big problem that needs everyone to help, like the government, police, animal helpers, and people. We need to make the rules stronger and make sure they are followed better to stop these bad breeders. This means giving bigger punishments for illegal breeding and smuggling, checking breeding places often, and making sure all breeders are registered and follow the rules from 2017 about dog breeding and selling.
We need to keep telling people how important it is to take good care of pets. It’s best to adopt pets from shelters or get them from good breeders who treat animals well. If someone wants to get a pet, they should learn a lot about the breeder first and not buy from places that aren’t safe. Some groups help save animals from puppy mills, and they also work to make rules to protect pets.
People in neighborhoods can help a lot by spotting and telling others about places where animals are being treated badly. When they team up with groups that care about animals and the police, they can help stop dog breeding businesses and make sure all animals are treated kindly.
In India, there is a big mafia where people are involved in dog breeding who inhumanely treat animals. They often make dogs sick and trick people who want to buy pets. Even though there are many problems, more people are starting to understand how important it is to treat animals with care and to adopt pets from shelters. This gives us hope that one day, all animals will be carefully looked after and respected. If we all work together, we can help stop these bad breeders and make the world a kinder place for both animals and people.
Featured Image Courtesy – Times of India
