The Atlas/Breeding/Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017
LawIndia
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017
G.S.R. 496(E), 2017 · Animal Welfare Board of India
India’s national licensing rules for dog breeders, requiring registration with a State Animal Welfare Board and opening every breeding establishment to inspection.
01 What It Is
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017 were notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. They place commercial dog breeding under a national registration regime administered through the State Animal Welfare Boards.
02 What It Covers
No breeder may carry on breeding, or own or house dogs for breeding and sale, without a certificate of registration from the State Board for the establishment used. Registration follows an application and an inspection by a team that includes a veterinary practitioner, the certificate must be displayed, the premises must stay open to inspection, and housing capacity is limited for each establishment to avoid overcrowding.
03 How It Is Checked
Registration is granted by the State Animal Welfare Board only after the inspection team reports that the breeder and the establishment meet the requirements. The Board can refuse or, by implication of the regime, act against establishments that fall short, and the breeder’s standing rests on a current certificate rather than self-declaration.
04 Why It Matters
Commercial breeding is where a dog’s life is shaped before sale. These rules give India a national gate on that trade, tying the right to breed for sale to inspection and registration rather than leaving it unregulated.
Common Questions
Is it mandatory?
Yes. No breeder may carry on breeding, or house dogs for breeding and sale, without a certificate of registration for the establishment from the State Animal Welfare Board.
Who administers it?
The State Animal Welfare Boards, under the Animal Welfare Board of India and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, made under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
What does registration involve?
An application and an inspection by a team that includes a veterinary practitioner. The certificate must be displayed, the premises must stay open to inspection, and housing capacity is limited to avoid overcrowding.
How is it checked?
Registration is granted only after the inspection team reports that the breeder and establishment meet the requirements, so standing rests on a current certificate rather than self-declaration.
Who does it apply to?
Anyone breeding dogs commercially in India.
Why does it matter?
Commercial breeding shapes a dog’s life before sale. These rules give India a national gate on that trade, tying the right to breed for sale to inspection and registration.