Health issues of inbreeding, crossbreeding among pooch

While walking down the streets in Mumbai, one may spot a well-bred puppy or an abandoned hybrid dog lying along the pavement, waiting to be rescued.
While you may look into the innocent eyes and wonder why they have been disowned — the reason is simple, dog owners do not want to keep pets that have health issues.
A research conducted by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and CUPA in April this year, has brought to light the condition of 99 dogs and puppies found at 15 facilities.The study highlighted shocking observations as the number of sick, unhealthy and stunted puppies were born due to inbreeding and crossbreeding of dogs by callous breeders. The report suggested that such breeding practices can cause respiratory problems, heart diseases, deafness, hip dysplasia, bow legs and other health complications among pooches. These health defects often show up in puppies when they are between three to six months, and are often abandoned by their owners and eventually land up on the streets to be either rescued by animal shelters or welfare organisations.
Mayani Upadhyay, a dog breeder in the city says, “Most dogs are hybrid these days to cater to the people who wish to have a wider range of dogs — that are either cute or distinct from the normal variety sold. For example, most people want a Golden Labrador. This breed is a mix of the Golden Retriever and a Labrador Retriever. Hence, apart from the golden-ish colour, this dog also imbibes behavioural traits from both its parents and is thus unique.” Amit Goyal, another breeder from the city says, “One can also see a number of well-bred female dogs along the road in the city. This is because once they cross the age of reproducing, they are of ‘no use’ to the owner or the breeder and have to find a home on the street.”
Further, a number of backyard breeders have mushroomed in the city as the demand for pets have grown. However, most of these dogs are not usually registered with the Animal Welfare Board of India and are thus not bred, housed and cared for properly by most breeders before they are sold off. Newborn puppies are kept in hazardous conditions with four to five of them put into one single cage, with restricted movement, due to which they develop leg problems as they grow up. Tuhina Bapuli who recently bought a Lab puppy says, “We went to an authorised breeder in the city. However, the puppies were kept away from their mother and were put into one cage and were fed once a day. The breeder also told us that the puppy was de-wormed, however, they must have used an inexpensive vaccine due to which the puppy has developed skin infection and is now being treated.”
Recommendations from AWBI
The Animal Welfare Board of India has come up with a set of recommendations. These include —
1.Grade the commercial breeding and sale of dogs as a classified commercial activity and all places where this trade is taking place to be notified and registered as shops and establishments under the Municipal Act. Following which, income tax on revenue earned, sales tax and Vat can be added to the sales
2.Checks on the breeding establishments by personnel authorized by the Animal Welfare Board of India and the State Animal Welfare Board will lead to better management and welfare standards of the breeding houses
3.Impose a penalty on all parties involved in the purchase and breeding of dogs from breeders, who do not possess the required licenses from Municipal Corporation and tax authorities
4.Make the unethical practice of inbreeding dogs illegal
5.Incorporate a clause in the Dog Breeding Rules to limit the number of times a female dog can be used for breeding
6.Implement rules and guidelines about how a female dog should be treated after she is beyond her breeding age
7.People must be encouraged and advised to purchase dogs from breeders registered with the AWBI
With inputs from Meghna.Mukherjee@timesgroup.com