Sri Lanka has suddenly blossomed into a hotbed of dog breeders and pet shops. All of which/whom have no accountability, no monitoring, no guidelines, no regulations, and no humanity.
Our economy is in extremely straightened circumstances (and that’s being kind), with imports of even essential items being curtailed, yet pedigreed dogs continue to be imported at exorbitant costs. Breeders interbreed dogs at great detriment to the animals health and life.
Animals are cooped up in tiny cages and are on a continuous breeding cycle which is tantamount to rape.
Proper nutrition and dietary supplements are ignored because nobody cares for the wellbeing of the animals. Living conditions are despicable and beyond description.
The breeders themselves have no clue about the animals they are breeding and hence are not in a position to instruct people who purchase a pet from them on their proper care.
Breeders in Sri Lanka merely see animals in a lucrative manner, to earn a fast buck, and they are increasing in numbers.
As for the pet shops that abound in this country, they are an abomination. The animals sit in cramped, filthy, uninhabitable cages, shivering in the cold and roasting in the heat – very often the cages are placed on the road so as to attract would-be customers with no thought at all for the poor creatures inside.
During weekends they are kept without food, water, or care, to their own devices. As for holiday time, the number of police complaints we have lodged against pet shop owners are just countless.
This all comes down to the lack of legislature regarding not just pet shop owners and dog breeders, but just about everything in sunny Sri Lanka; even human life.
We live in a country where private bus owners and politicians mow down people and yet are allowed to get away scott free, so where would a poor animal’s plight be considered?
We have thousands of extremely intelligent community dogs who are very trainable and could be put to use as guard dogs with the forces and security companies as well as trained to be part of the community, but NO. Getting rid of them is always easier. Think about what a lot of foreign exchange we would save if the importation of dogs was banned.
On average, I receive at least two messages a week regarding people who have invested in expensive pedigrees only to find out that a few weeks down the line, they are incapable of looking after them and hence are seeking homes for them. In the wake of a Covid-hit economy, to spend Rs. 65,000-100,000 on an animal you haven’t a clue as to how you should take care of is, in my opinion, a jailable offence.
Abandoning of animals in parks and public places occurs on a daily basis, with these poor animals being run over in a matter of hours. I myself have rescued countless such animals.
The Animal Welfare Bill still languishes God knows where, despite promises of being finally passed after a lapse of 25 years or more!
The illicit slaughter of cattle is rife, animal cruelty has become a pastime, and our pleas fall on deaf ears.
Paradise indeed, Dharmista indeed!
