Breeding Of Cold Climate Dogs Like Siberian Husky, Basset Hound To Be Prohibited Says TN's Draft Dog Breeding Policy

A draft dog breeding policy brought by the Tamil Nadu government recently has prohibited the breeding of certain dog breeds that belong to cold climates as they find it difficult to tolerate the weather in India.

Among the breeds mentioned are Basset Hound, French Bulldog, Alaskan Malamute, Keeshond, Newfoundland, Norwegian Elkhound, Tibetan Mastiff, Siberian Husky and Saint Bernard, The Hindu reported.

The other conditions mentioned by the policy are that female dogs should not be mated after the age of eight, and the registration of breeders and pet owners with the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board, which would be responsible for issuing health certificates for the dogs.

On euthanasia, it states that it cannot be done just because the dog is no longer commercially viable and if it has to be done for reasons like incurable sickness, it should be done by a registered veterinary.

Further, it restricts 'inbreeding' while allowing 'out-breeding' and 'line-breeding' because 'inbreeding' increases the likelihood of dogs getting affected by genetic defects and inherited diseases.

The issue of import and breeding of dogs was in the news last year as the Madras High Court overturned the centre's ban on the import of all dogs except for certain specific purposes. The Centre later appealed against the decision.