PETA urges Gujarat to ban foreign breeds used in dogfights

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) India, has begun a campaign for banning aggressive foreign dog breeds across Gujarat after a four-mont hold baby was mauled to death by a rottweiler in Ahmedabad. In a letter addressed to Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and chief secretary Pankaj Joshi, Peta India called for urgent action to prohibit the breeding, sale and ownership of breeds such as rottweiler, pitbull terrier, Pakistani bully kutta, dogo argentino, presa canario, fila brasileiro, bull terrier and XL Bully, citing public safety and animal welfare concerns.“These foreign breeds are engineered to be unstoppable weapons and are frequently abused in dogfights. We urge Gujarat to act swiftly to protect both humans and animals by banning the keeping and sale of these dogs,” said Shaurya Agrawal, advocacy associate, Peta India.After the rottweiler attack incident, state govt has indicated its intent to frame a policy around such breeds amid growing concerns regarding their use in illegal dogfighting rings, despite such activities being banned under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.Peta India claims that many of these dogs are kept on heavy chains, subjected to ear cropping and tail docking — illegal and painful procedures intended to enhance their fighting capabilities — and are left untreated when injured due to the underground nature of these fights.The animal rights body has proposed sterilization and mandatory registration of such dogs, followed by a phased ban on their sale, breeding and ownership. It has also urged the govt to shut down illegal breeders and pet shops and to crack down on organised dogfighting networks across the state.Dr Apoorva Gohil, a veterinarian, says there should be a 100% ban on the sale and breeding of such breeds across India. “The penalty imposed on offenders should also be raised.”