With the Indian government banning the import of dogs for breeding or any other commercial activity, pet lovers are ruing dwindling chances of getting an exotic dog or even seeing new breeds at shows.
The government claims the ban will stop the suffering of dogs, who are built for colder climes but are forced to live in tropical India. It also feels breeders would now stop importing dogs and turning them into “puppy mills” by mating them repeatedly without a care for their health.
But genuine dog lovers are upset with the decision. The Telegraph Salt Lake continues its column to showcase some imported dogs in our neighbourhood.
AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD
About the breed: This is one dog that never chases its tail, because Australian Shepherds are born with naturally bobbed tails! Look behind one and at most you’ll see a short stub.
Despite its name, this breed wasn’t developed in Australia. It was bred in the ranches of USA and probably got its name as it would be used to herd sheep imported from Australia.
This medium-size breed makes a tireless sheep dog and so they require adequate exercise in open spaces. They also make great search and rescue dogs, disaster dogs, guide dogs and therapy dogs.
Owner: Prasenjit Chatterjee
Block: BA Block
Name: Int. Ch. Ind. Croat Ch. Atmajita’s Mangry’s La Bamba Mamacita (Bamba)
Imported from: Croatia in 2013
Gender: Female
Age: Six years
How she came: “I had gone to Croatia in 2010 and being a dog lover had a look at some dogs there. I met Bamba and fell in love with her,” says Chatterjee, who claims his is the first Australian Shepherd in India. Her father Ch. Thornapple After Shock and mother Ch. Thornapple America The Beautiful are both champions.
Special care: “Calcutta is too polluted for dogs to lead a healthy life and so I keep Bamba and my 16 other dogs (including three stray dogs) at my spacious farmhouse in Bankura most of the time. I have staff there, besides my wife Mousumi. She is their greatest caretaker. The dogs come to Salt Lake in the show season in winter,” says Chatterjee.
Achievements: Bamba came to India having already won the junior champion title in Croatia and junior class Best of Breed (BoB) in UK’s prestigious Crufts show in 2012. “Cruft’s is perhaps the biggest the dog show in the world and you need a lot of qualifications to even register as a participant. The year Bamba won BoB there, there were a total of 22,000 dogs entries,” says a proud Chatterjee. “At the Federation Cynologique Internationale’s (FCI) 2014 show in Chennai she became the Indian champion by winning BoB in all four rings in a single day.”
Offspring: Bamba was flown to Moscow to mate with AM. CH. Mbis. Risingstar’s Heaven Sent Rn Rafe in 2015. She had a litter of seven puppies of which two are with Chatterjee — a male named Atlas and a female Kohinoor. “I have gifted the rest to friends. I never sell my puppies,” he says.
On the new law: “The main attraction for visitors at dog shows is to see uncommon breeds. Not only will they be disappointed henceforth but the quality of breeds in India will also fall without new lines being introduced from abroad. I agree there are breeders who exploit dogs but there are many genuine dog-lovers who will be deprived too,” says Chatterjee.
AMERICAN COCKER SPANIEL
About the breed: The word Spaniel is an indicator of the breed’s Spanish ancestry and the word Cocker stuck on as they would be used to hunt woodcocks. The first spaniel reached America with the early English settlers in 1620 but with time the American spaniels became noticeably different from those in England. Hence a new breed came into recognition — American Cocker Spaniel.
The American breed has long silky fur on its body and ears, hanging down from the legs and belly. It is distinct from its European cousin due to its dome-like head and upturned nose.
The breed gained popularity in the US when president Richard Nixon adopted one and the 1955 Disney film Lady and the Tramp starred a cartoon American Cocker Spaniel named Lady.
Owner: Satyabrata Bose
Address: Baguiati
Name: Eva (female) and Steven Teddy Bear (male)
Imported from: Eva is from Belarus and Steven from Moscow. Both were imported in January 2016.
Age: Both are around 14 months
How they came: “I had noted that the quality of American Cocker Spaniels in India wasn’t up to the mark and wanted to raise the bar. So I got in touch with a Russian breeder and got the two dogs,” says Bose.
Special care: This breed’s beauty is its coat and they are groomed on a daily basis with oils, shampoos and conditioners imported from Australia.
Achievements: Eva won Best Puppy in Show at shows in Goa, Ooty and Silchar earlier this year and Steven will participate from the coming season. Both have won Puppy Champion titles in shows in their respective countries before coming to Bose.
On the law: “The law will deprive genuine dog-lovers like me. What’s wrong with introducing new breeds to India? We love them like our children. For instance, we don’t stay in air-conditioned rooms round the clock but won’t let them stay out of one.”
♦ To be continued
