FIR Registered Against Pitbull ‘Owner’ for Allowing Attack on Community Dog, Following PETA India Intervention

In a horrifying incident in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a pitbull dog left off-leash by their owner attacked a community dog. Following a complaint by a local activist Suraj Bagde and Berryl Sanchis of Aurangabad Pet Lovers Association (APLA), PETA India intervened and worked with the Senior Police Inspector of Jawahar Nagar Police Station to ensure the registration of an first information report (FIR). The FIR has been filed under Section 11(1)(i) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, and Sections 325, 125, 291, and 336 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The incident, captured on video, shows the pitbull was off-leash in a public place  attacking the community dog, causing grievous injuries. The footage reveals the pitbull holding down the community dog by the throat and then shaking the poor animal. Despite this, the pitbull’s owner failed to intervene or restrain their companion dog. The injured community dog passed away.

Pitbulls and similar foreign dog breeds are primarily used for dogfighting in India, even though inciting dogs to fight is illegal under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Without suitable enforcement and regulation, organised dogfights have become prevalent in parts of the country, making pit bull–type dogs and others used in these fights the most abused dog breeds. Pit bulls and related breeds are also otherwise typically kept on heavy chains as attack dogs, resulting in aggressive defensive behaviour and a lifetime of suffering. Many endure painful physical mutilations, such as ear cropping and tail docking – illegal procedures involving removing part of a dog’s ears or tail to prevent another dog from grabbing them during a fight. These dogs are encouraged to continue fighting until they become exhausted and at least one is seriously injured or dies. Because dogfighting is illegal, injured dogs are not taken to veterinarians.

A prohibition could be achieved in the state by making sterilisation and registration of such dogs mandatory while prohibiting breeding, keeping, or selling them after a stipulated date. PETA India is also calling for the closure of illegal pet shops and breeders and a crackdown on illegal dogfighting.