Mansa Deputy Commissioner Cancels Permission to Greyhound Race Following PETA India Intervention
Upon discovering that permission had been granted for a greyhound dog race set to take place in Mansa, Punjab, on 23 December, PETA India immediately contacted Shri Kulwant Singh, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Mansa District to relay concerns that greyhound races are illegal and in violation of an Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) circular dated 07 December 2020. As a result, the Deputy Commissioner’s office acted swiftly to revoke the permission. This timely intervention is aimed at sparing numerous greyhounds from suffering.
In its representation, PETA India pointed out that according to a letter sent to the Chief Secretary of Punjab, the AWBI had opined that essentially all animal races, and in particular dog races, are prohibited under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 and has declared similar events illegal. The letter warned that conducting such races amounted to contempt of court and urged the withdrawal of any permissions or directions for such activities to ensure compliance with the law.
The representation also pointed out that the PCA Act, 1960, specifically criminalizes inciting animals to fight with other animals. In the landmark judgment of Animal Welfare Board of India vs A Nagaraja & Ors (Civil Appeal No 5387/2014) of 7 May 2014, the Hon’ble Supreme Court clarified that activities such as animal racing come within the purview of animal fights, as they involve forcing them into competitive and harmful situations, akin to incitement to fight.
Recently, PETA India, working with senior police officials, successfully prevented illegal greyhound races across multiple locations: Arjunagi, Bijapur, Karnataka (12 December); Lasoi village, Malerkotla, Punjab (10 December); SAS Nagar Mohali, Punjab (8 December); Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab (6 December); Samrala village, Ludhiana, Punjab (30 November); Chung village, Tarn Taran, Punjab (27 November); Yamuna Nagar, Haryana (25 November); and Moga, Punjab (24 November).
Greyhound racing is inherently cruel due to the severe physical and psychological harm it inflicts on the dogs involved. These dogs are forced to run at high speeds, often leading to serious injuries such as fractures, torn ligaments, internal damage, or even death during races. Beyond the physical strain, greyhounds are often confined when not racing, leading to neglect and poor living conditions that risk malnutrition, dehydration, and poor health. The loud, chaotic environment of races causes dogs immense stress and anxiety, which can result in long-term psychological trauma. Once these dogs are no longer deemed useful for racing, they are often discarded, abandoned, or killed, further contributing to their suffering. The overbreeding of greyhounds to meet the demand for racing also results in a surplus of dogs, many of whom are neglected or killed if they do not meet performance standards.
