A Change.org petition started by Vishanth Ragunath has created a furore online.
The petitioner has, in no genial terms, chided the large online marketplace OLX.in for its sale of animals. OLX, which describes itself as a “free local classifieds site” has over time arrested public fancy and shopping frenzy alike with its widespread advocacy of buying and selling pretty much anything on its platform – cars, mobiles, houses on rent, running shoes – you name it.
This, however, is a new development and what the petition has essentially done is open up a can of wriggling worms. The big questions are: is it morally advisable to buy/sell an animal on a digital platform as if it were a commodity? Or is it merely a way for a dog lover to adopt an obviously unwanted canine and take care of him/her?
This is currently what the OLX page under Category “Animals” looks like.