Chennai: The Madras High Court has ordered the closure of the dog breeding unit in Saidapet, run by the animal husbandry department within two months.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M. Sathyanarayanan ordered the closure while disposing of the petitions from People of Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and E. Seshan.
The bench had on August 4, 2014, granted three months to the state government to set right the functioning of the Dog Breeding unit. It also directed the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to carry out a fresh inspection and if it still recommends that there was no sufficient improvement and the unit be shut down. If the unit serves its original objective and it was brought in conformity on inspection by the board, then the unit can continue subject to its continued performance monitored by the board, the bench had added.
Accordingly, AWBI filed an inspection report dated March 9, 2015, and made recommendation for closure of the unit. After perusing the same, the bench said, “In view of the order dated August 4, 2014, the Dog Breeding unit run by the animal husbandry department of the Tamil Nadu State Government is required to be closed down within two months. The dogs in the unit would be rehabilitated with the assistance of the AWBI”.
In its report, AWBI said there was high prevalence of health problems particularly skin diseases and high mortality rate, prevalence of pressure sores and ecotoparasites, continuous confinement, lack of opportunity for socialization and adequate. This contravenes the provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
The inspection team has recommended closure of the dog breeding unit and the existing animals may taken to an animal hospital cum shelter so that they can get the treatment and care they desperately need before being adopted into homes, the report said.
