Missing Pet Dogs in India Allegedly Tied to Dog Meat Trade

When Anupama Srivastav's pet dog Brownie went missing from DLF Phase 2, an area in the district of Gurgaon, posters went up and a missing dog report was filed with the police. It was revealed through villagers in the neighboring area of Sikanderpur Ghosi that the dog had been killed and eaten by local men. Upon learning of the incident, a First Information Report was filed with the police by Amit Chaudhery, the President of People for Animals' Gurgaon chapter. A First Information Report (FIR), is a very important document because it sets the process of criminal justice in motion. It is only after the FIR is registered at the police station that an investigation can be started.

Another dog went missing 10 days later, and people believed that this dog too had met the same horrific fate as Brownie. When a dog goes missing, most people file complaints or put up missing posters but they don't necessarily file a First Information Report with the police. Because of this, there is little follow up by the guardians and police. Since most dog companions are friendly in nature, it is easy for illegal breeders to steal them from their homes, and once the breeders' purpose has been met, they are killed for their meat.

For all these reasons, cases of dog theft have been on the rise in these districts which are part of the National Capital Region, a coordinated planning region centered upon the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India

Dog meat sales are thriving in both the Gurgaon and Delhi districts, along with illegal dog breeding, despite various sections of the Indian Penal Code that prevent cruelty against animals and a provision in the law that would punish those found stealing or killing a dog.

Another Gurgaon-based activist, Vipul Agrahari, tells us that dog meat is easily available for very little money. According to Agrahari, there are hardly any stray dogs left in Nathupur area. He believes the dogs have been killed for their meat in illegal slaughter houses inside the cramped and densely populated village areas in Nathupur and possibly other regions.

Manidh Sehgal, Assistant Commissioner of Police in Gurgaon, seems to refute the idea by stating to the Times of India that complaints regarding dog-meat market have not been filed and they are not aware of such dog trade in these areas.

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