Hyderabad kennel crisis: Illegal dog breeding and cruelty exposed
HYDERABAD: Behind the closed doors of licensed and unlicensed kennels across the city, a quiet crisis is unfolding. Hundreds of dogs, many of them high-breed, are being subjected to cruelty, abandoned when they outlive their usefulness, or bred illegally without any oversight.
In an interview with HyderabadMail, A Goutham, Cruelty Prevention Manager at the Stray Animal Foundation of India, highlighted systemic failures, corruption, and the lack of action by authorities responsible for animal protection. “The State Board has become completely ineffective. They have no timeline for inspections. Unless someone files a specific complaint, nothing happens,” said A Goutham.
Goutham explained that legitimate dog breeding operations in Telangana must obtain two documents that is, a Certificate of Registration from the State Animal Welfare Board of Telangana and a local trade license from the municipality (GHMC) or local body. “The municipal license is only granted if the State Board’s certificate is obtained first. That certificate is the foundational requirement,” he said.
Despite these requirements, Goutham added that many centers operate without registration or with expired certificates, yet face no consequences and continue operating.
He shed further light on why illegal breeding persists despite clear regulations. Goutham said, “The public system is corrupt. Everything operates through corruption. Not every government official is an animal lover. There is also possible collusion. So they pay little to no attention to these breeding centers.”
Goutham pointed out the lack of proactive enforcement. He stated that the State Board is solely responsible for inspections and enforcement of the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017, but inspections are rarely conducted proactively. “They only act if someone files a complaint. Otherwise, they remain oblivious and won’t bother to intervene.”
Goutham cited a recent case involving the abandonment of six Huskies in Patancheru as an example of a broader issue. “Around 40 dogs were abandoned. A NGO rescued about eight. The police got involved in that case because it became public. But there are countless other illegal breeding centers completely off our radar.” He warned that unregulated breeding inevitably leads to abandonment. “Once a dog is no longer useful for breeding or if it falls sick, people simply throw it out on the streets,” said Goutham.
Under the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017, any facility involved in dog breeding must obtain and periodically renew a Certificate of Registration (every 1 to 3 years), complete mandatory training hours, and operate without cruelty to animals.
But enforcement often falls short. If a facility operates without a valid certificate or is found guilty of cruelty, the State Board can seize the establishment and transfer its operations to NGOs. “They have the right to seize assets or operations. That is the provision. But in reality, authorities rarely take such actions,” said Goutham.
When asked about necessary reforms, he outlined a clear plan, conduct immediate statewide inspections beyond GHMC limits, close all illegal breeding centers lacking valid Certificates of Registration, take action against registered centers where cruelty is found, and publicly seize two or three facilities to set an example. He further added “The others will only fall in line if two or three places are seized. Otherwise, nothing will change. This is a massive mafia network, a huge business enterprise.”
Despite efforts to raise these issues, he added that the State Board has not responded to him, even after he submitted multiple applications and complaints.
