Dumping of pedigree dogs by owners on the rise

KOLKATA: Subir Gon has a two year old Labrador. The Rajarhat residence put it up for sale on Quikr on Sunday afternoon because he “cannot give much time to him”.
Leela Pramanik found a young Dachshund loitering in front of her Hazra house in the first week of June. She tried to locate the owner but to no avail. NGOs and animal activists have warned that owners of pedigree dogs in Kolkata are abandoning their pets in alarming numbers for reasons ranging from health problems caused by irresponsible breeding to the amount involved for the upkeep of exotic breeds to sudden realisation that the oh-so-cute puppy they had brought home a few months ago has started growing up and requires space and upkeep.
According to experts, most families giving up their canine companionship are first generation dog keepers who spend thousands of rupees to buy the dogs without having any idea of concern and time required.
“There are many families who keep a pet dog just because their friends have them too. Then, there are some who buy in impulse or because there child insists on one. Dog ownership has to be considered a decision same as having a baby of your own,” said a member of People For Animals in Kolkata.