Ban on 'ferocious' dog breeds takes a bite out of pet business

As the debate on animal welfare and public safety intensifies, dog breeders find themselves at the receiving end of regulatory intervention.

- RISHIKA AGARWAL

The government's decision to prohibit the import, sale and breeding of 25 dog breeds, including pitbulls, Rottweilers, American bulldogs and wolf dogs, due to their perceived aggressiveness and potential risk to human safety, has dealt a blow to their business.

"The ban not only threatens the breeders' livelihood, but also raises concerns about the welfare of these dogs," said a breeder from Kerala, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We will eventually be forced to abandon these breeds on the streets."

The ban, he said, may also lead to the market getting saturated with alternative breeds, such as golden retrievers, labradors, and pugs, as breeders seek viable options to sustain their business.

Although there is still demand for puppies of the banned breeds, many breeders claim to have halted sales due to the inability to obtain regulatory approval.