Tamil Nadu Revokes Ban On 23 ‘Dangerous’ Foreign Dog Breeds; Sets Instructions For Dog Owners

After two rottweiler dogs attacked a five-year-old girl in Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry Department decided to ban 23 foreign and mixed dog breeds on Thursday. The ban, however, was withdrawn on Thursday evening itself. This was due to the fact that the Madras High Court had put a stay on an identical notification issued by the union government in March this year. Keeping this in mind, the state government decided to revoke the ban and issue certain instructions for the dog owners of these breeds.

Tamil Nadu Revokes Ban On 23 Foreign Dog Breeds

A five-year-old girl in Chennai’s Nungambakkam Park was mauled by two rottweilers. She was severely injured. Following the incident, the Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry Department decided to ban any import, breeding, or sale of 23 foreign and mixed dog breeds that are ‘dangerous’ for people. They issued the notification on Thursday. The list included dog breeds like Tosa Inu, Fila Brasileiro, American Bulldog, Caucasian Shepherd, Japanese Tosa and Akita, and Rottweiler.

However, the ban was revoked by late evening on Thursday itself. This withdrawal comes in line with the Madras High Court stay order on a similar notification issued by the union government in March this year. According to that notification, the central government had asked all states to ban the import, sale, and breeding of ‘ferocious and dangerous’ dogs. The Madras High Court, along with a couple of other high courts, decided to put a stay on this notification. So, just a few hours after the announcement of the ban, the Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry Department decided to withdraw it.

Also Read: Now You Can Live In The First House Sridevi Bought; The Legendary Actor’s Chennai Home Now On Airbnb

Sets Instructions For Dog Owners To Ensure Safety

The state, however, has set some instructions for pet dog owners in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry Department has mandated leashes and muzzles for dogs when they are in public places. For the leash chain length, they have asked dog owners to keep its length “proportional to the body width (at least 3 times the length) from the tip of the dog’s nose to the bottom of the tail.” Lastly, they asked the dogs to be provided with good-quality collars or shoulder braces to ensure the safety of the pets as well as the public.

Should these dogs be banned or not? What’s your take on this entire matter? Let us know in the comments.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva