Victory: Four Illegal Greyhound Dog Races Stopped in Punjab and Haryana After PETA India Complaint, Legal Action Underway for One Race That Occurred
Upon receiving reports of greyhound races scheduled to take place in Moga, Punjab, on 24 November; Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, on 25 November; Chung village, Tarn Taran, Punjab, on 27 November and Samrala village, Ludhiana, Punjab, on 30 November — PETA India took immediate action to ensure these unlawful events were called off. PETA India promptly alerted senior police officials in all four districts about promotional advertisements for the events, including details about the organisers. As a result of police intervention, the scheduled races were called off, preventing cruelty to numerous greyhound dogs. However, one race scheduled in Burj village, Malerkotla, on 26 November took place despite efforts to prevent it. PETA India has filed a formal complaint and is working closely with the police to ensure an FIR is registered against the organisers.
Greyhound racing involves forcing dogs to race at such dangerously high speeds that it puts a tremendous strain on their bodies, often causing them to suffer injuries or death. When not used, they are typically confined to kennels and forced to stand in their own filth. Dogs who lose may face harsh treatment, such as abandonment or being killed. Injuries, exhaustion, and psychological trauma are common in spectacles in which animals are forced to race, which prioritises gambling over the welfare of the animals.
In its complaint, PETA India stated that under the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001, animals cannot be legally used for training, exhibition, or performances without prior approval from the Animal Welfare Board of India. Additionally, such races violate provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which prohibits inflicting unnecessary suffering on animals.
