Govt Bans Pedigree Dogs Import for Breeding, Commercial Purposes

Pet dogs will be allowed into the country if there are valid pet book documents about the importer.

Getting a pedigree dog will soon cost buyers more now as the government banned the import of dogs for breeding or any other commercial activity, Times of India reported.

The move has been welcomes by animal welfare organizations.

As per the notification issued on Monday by the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), only people getting pet dogs into the country with a valid pet book documents about the importer will also be allowed to import a dog in the country.

Import of dogs will only be be allowed for defense and police forces.

According to TOI, the top five pedigree breeds in demand are Pug, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Labrador and Doberman.

Mint quoted Gauri Maulekhi from Humane Society International (India) and People for Animals as saying:

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

With the rise of the population of street dogs, violent activities towards street dogs in India have increased too.