logo
India's unregulated pet care sector breeds scams, exploits animals and people

India's unregulated pet care sector breeds scams, exploits animals and people

Time of India10-06-2025
1
2
3
Pune: The lack of regulation in the animal welfare sector in India has allowed for the emergence of a breeding ground for fraudsters that exploit both animals and volunteers.
In the absence of proper oversight, there has been a disturbing proliferation of spurious animal shelters nationwide, operating as profit-making ventures while charging exorbitant monthly fees from rescuers and individuals.
The trend was exemplified in 2024, when a counterfeit shelter was set up near Delhi using the name of People for Animals, a well-known group run by Maneka Gandhi. "People have been calling me from across the country, particularly those familiar with our work at PFA, to inform us about this duplicity. An investigation is underway," Gandhi stated.
Puneeta Khanna, Pune unit head for PFA, explained to TOI that while people endeavour to "rescue" animals, they often lack the wherewithal for permanent adoption.
"They then relinquish the animals at any available shelter without conducting due diligence. They neither inspect the facilities nor research their credentials, simply transferring the animal and payments before disengaging completely. This prevalent behaviour enables fraudulent operations to flourish," she said.
Social media platforms have amplified duplicitous schemes, with fraudsters fabricating counterfeit NGO accounts and misappropriating content from legitimate organisations to conduct crowdfunding campaigns.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
Swindlers manipulate digital platforms, disseminating emotive posts and reels to solicit donations — which never reach intended beneficiaries.
Richa Singh Choudhuri, who runs a senior dog shelter in Delhi, revealed how fraudsters pilfered photographs and videos posted by genuine animal welfare NGOs seeking funds for medical treatments. "This recurring issue recently affected our campaign for Mozart, a dog requiring costly surgery for luxating patella.
Scamsters already pocketed thousands before some people informed us about their posts, and we messaged them to shut it down and threatened them with legal action.
While some perpetrators remove such posts when confronted, many persist, necessitating formal complaints," Choudhuri said.
The post-pandemic surge in pet boarding services also witnessed inexperienced individuals offering boarding facilities, where pets frequently endure confinement without adequate care.
Pet parent Pallavi Doshi shared her harrowing experience with a Bengaluru-based facility, where her dog went missing when she came back to pick him up after a four-day stay. "Despite promises of daily updates, they did not send us anything and stopped picking up our calls.
We spent our holiday in panic. When we rushed back to pick him up, they claimed our pet ran away. We searched high and low and offered rewards, but he was nowhere to be found.
Later, we were informed by others who gave bad reviews to the facility that they too faced similar issues with their breed male dogs and suspected that they were sold to breeders," said Doshi.
Many establishments operate without standardised criteria for staff recruitment, occasionally employing individuals who demonstrate cruelty towards animals. Incidents have surfaced on social media, including in Feb 2025, when a Chow Chow endured brutal treatment at a Thane pet clinic, and the Oct 2024 tragedy involving a Cocker Spaniel's death at a Noida boarding facility.
Vineeta Tandon, who manages Animal Rescue Trust in Pune, said too many shelters operate sans proper registration, staff or capabilities. "Many just procure shop act licences and function ignoring safety guidelines. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) stipulates that shelters shouldn't retain healthy, self-sufficient animals or keep them caged. However, profit-driven facilities disregard this," she said.
"Healthy strays are unnecessarily removed from their natural habitat by emotional activists who believe institutional care is superior. They often end up confined without proper sustenance, contrary to natural street existence where they enjoy freedom and regular feeding," Tandon added.
This malpractice was evident when in Oct 2024, authorities rescued over 50 animals from a fraudulent shelter in Ravet. The proprietor distributed counterfeit receipts and falsely claimed veterinary credentials.
Similarly, in June last year, an illegal dog hostel was shut down in Jodhpur following PETA India's intervention, where animals had endured abusive training methods.
Geetanjali Taur, founder of Saahas for Animals, advocates for an urgent need for stringent industry regulation. "Transparency is key. When you find that an NGO is not being open for visitations and about their facilities or answering all questions, it should raise a red flag.
But it's time clear rules, standards, and guidelines are set and strictly implemented across all animal-related businesses and charitable establishments.
Volunteers must exercise prudence rather than making emotionally driven impulsive decisions that compromise animal welfare."
According to Meet Ashar, an animal rights advocate and cruelty case division legal advisor at PETA India, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in its current form does not strengthen legal protection for animals.
"While BNS removes different punishments based on the value of the animal and prescribes a uniform punishment for killing or maiming, irrespective of species, it has done more damage by totally removing the provision that penalised sexual abuse of animals," he pointed out.
Pune: The lack of regulation in the animal welfare sector in India has allowed for the emergence of a breeding ground for fraudsters that exploit both animals and volunteers.
In the absence of proper oversight, there has been a disturbing proliferation of spurious animal shelters nationwide, operating as profit-making ventures while charging exorbitant monthly fees from rescuers and individuals.
The trend was exemplified in 2024, when a counterfeit shelter was set up near Delhi using the name of People for Animals, a well-known group run by Maneka Gandhi. "People have been calling me from across the country, particularly those familiar with our work at PFA, to inform us about this duplicity.
An investigation is underway," Gandhi stated.
Puneeta Khanna, Pune unit head for PFA, explained to TOI that while people endeavour to "rescue" animals, they often lack the wherewithal for permanent adoption. "They then relinquish the animals at any available shelter without conducting due diligence. They neither inspect the facilities nor research their credentials, simply transferring the animal and payments before disengaging completely.
This prevalent behaviour enables fraudulent operations to flourish," she said.
Social media platforms have amplified duplicitous schemes, with fraudsters fabricating counterfeit NGO accounts and misappropriating content from legitimate organisations to conduct crowdfunding campaigns. Swindlers manipulate digital platforms, disseminating emotive posts and reels to solicit donations — which never reach intended beneficiaries.
Richa Singh Choudhuri, who runs a senior dog shelter in Delhi, revealed how fraudsters pilfered photographs and videos posted by genuine animal welfare NGOs seeking funds for medical treatments. "This recurring issue recently affected our campaign for Mozart, a dog requiring costly surgery for luxating patella. Scamsters already pocketed thousands before some people informed us about their posts, and we messaged them to shut it down and threatened them with legal action.
While some perpetrators remove such posts when confronted, many persist, necessitating formal complaints," Choudhuri said.
The post-pandemic surge in pet boarding services also witnessed inexperienced individuals offering boarding facilities, where pets frequently endure confinement without adequate care. Pet parent Pallavi Doshi shared her harrowing experience with a Bengaluru-based facility, where her dog went missing when she came back to pick him up after a four-day stay.
"Despite promises of daily updates, they did not send us anything and stopped picking up our calls.
We spent our holiday in panic. When we rushed back to pick him up, they claimed our pet ran away. We searched high and low and offered rewards, but he was nowhere to be found. Later, we were informed by others who gave bad reviews to the facility that they too faced similar issues with their breed male dogs and suspected that they were sold to breeders," said Doshi.
Many establishments operate without standardised criteria for staff recruitment, occasionally employing individuals who demonstrate cruelty towards animals. Incidents have surfaced on social media, including in Feb 2025, when a Chow Chow endured brutal treatment at a Thane pet clinic, and the Oct 2024 tragedy involving a Cocker Spaniel's death at a Noida boarding facility.
Vineeta Tandon, who manages Animal Rescue Trust in Pune, said too many shelters operate sans proper registration, staff or capabilities.
"Many just procure shop act licences and function ignoring safety guidelines. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) stipulates that shelters shouldn't retain healthy, self-sufficient animals or keep them caged. However, profit-driven facilities disregard this," she said.
"Healthy strays are unnecessarily removed from their natural habitat by emotional activists who believe institutional care is superior.
They often end up confined without proper sustenance, contrary to natural street existence where they enjoy freedom and regular feeding," Tandon added.
This malpractice was evident when in Oct 2024, authorities rescued over 50 animals from a fraudulent shelter in Ravet. The proprietor distributed counterfeit receipts and falsely claimed veterinary credentials. Similarly, in June last year, an illegal dog hostel was shut down in Jodhpur following PETA India's intervention, where animals had endured abusive training methods.
Geetanjali Taur, founder of Saahas for Animals, advocates for an urgent need for stringent industry regulation. "Transparency is key. When you find that an NGO is not being open for visitations and about their facilities or answering all questions, it should raise a red flag. But it's time clear rules, standards, and guidelines are set and strictly implemented across all animal-related businesses and charitable establishments.
Volunteers must exercise prudence rather than making emotionally driven impulsive decisions that compromise animal welfare."
According to Meet Ashar, an animal rights advocate and cruelty case division legal advisor at PETA India, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in its current form does not strengthen legal protection for animals. "While BNS removes different punishments based on the value of the animal and prescribes a uniform punishment for killing or maiming, irrespective of species, it has done more damage by totally removing the provision that penalised sexual abuse of animals," he pointed out.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hulk Hogan's sex tape lawsuit had a lasting effect on cases involving celebrity privacy
Hulk Hogan's sex tape lawsuit had a lasting effect on cases involving celebrity privacy

The Hindu

time30 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

Hulk Hogan's sex tape lawsuit had a lasting effect on cases involving celebrity privacy

Famous for his fearless bravado as a pro wrestler, Hulk Hogan won one of his most notable victories in a Florida courtroom by emphasizing his humiliation and emotional distress after a news and gossip website published a video of Hogan having sex with a friend's wife. A 2016 civil trial that pitted the First Amendment against the privacy rights of celebrities ended with a jury awarding Hogan a whopping $140 million in his lawsuit against Gawker Media. Though both parties later settled on $31 million to avoid protracted appeals, the case put Gawker out of business. It also ensured Hogan, who died Thursday at age 71, and his legal team would have a long-term impact on media law. The case showed that, in certain circumstances, celebrities could persuade a jury that their right to privacy outweighs the freedom of the press — even when the published material was true. The case put media outlets on notice that 'the public doesn't necessarily like the press,' especially when reporting intrudes into intimate details of even public figures' private lives, said Samantha Barbas, a University of Iowa law professor who writes about press freedoms and First Amendment issues. She said it also emboldened celebrities, politicians and others in the public spotlight to be more aggressive in suing over unflattering news coverage — as seen recently in President Donald Trump's pursuit of court cases against the Wall Street Journal, ABC and CBS. 'I think the lasting effect of the Hulk Hogan case was it really started this trend of libel and privacy lawsuits being weaponized to kind of take down these media organizations,' Barbas said. Hogan, whose given name was Terry Bollea, sued Gawker for invading his privacy after the website in 2012 posted an edited version of a video of Hogan having sex with the wife of his then-best friend, Florida-based radio DJ Bubba The Love Sponge Clem. Clem gave his blessing to the coupling and recorded the video that was later leaked to Gawker. Hogan insisted he was unaware the intimate encounter was being filmed. The former WWE champion testified that he was 'completely humiliated' when the sex video became public. Hogan's lead trial attorney, Ken Turkel, recalled Thursday how his muscular, mustachioed client cried in court as the jury verdict was read. 'To him the privacy part of it was integral. It was important,' Turkel said. 'Eight-year-old kids were googling 'Hulk Hogan' and 'Wrestlemania,' and they were getting a sex tape. That was hurtful to him in a real personal way.' The three-week trial was closely followed far beyond the courtroom in St. Petersburg, Florida, as thousands of wrestling fans, First Amendment watchers and others stayed glued to their screens as the trial was streamed live online. Salacious details emerged about Hogan's sex life as jurors and spectators viewed images of him in thong underwear. Other testimony focused on how New York-based Gawker practiced journalism differently than traditional news outlets. And Hogan explained to the jury about the difference between his wrestling persona and his private life. ALSO READ: Chris Hemsworth on 'Hulk Hogan' biopic: 'A deep dive into the rabbit hole of the wrestling world' The jury ultimately rejected arguments by Gawker's attorneys that Hogan's sex tape was newsworthy and that publishing it, no matter how distasteful, was protected speech under the First Amendment. 'Now more people, including judges, understand that it's possible to sue someone for revealing something truthful, as long as that something is deeply personal and its publication is highly offensive,' said Amy Gajda, a Brooklyn Law School professor who followed and wrote about the case against Gawker. News outlets still have broad legal protection for publishing information about public figures, even things that would generally be considered private, Gajda said 'As long as there is news value in what is published and the media can argue that effectively, they can get a privacy case dismissed very early on,' she said.

DLF-Trident Realty JV sells all 416 flats in Mumbai project for Rs 2,300cr
DLF-Trident Realty JV sells all 416 flats in Mumbai project for Rs 2,300cr

News18

time37 minutes ago

  • News18

DLF-Trident Realty JV sells all 416 flats in Mumbai project for Rs 2,300cr

Agency: PTI Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) India's largest realty firm DLF Ltd and Trident Realty have sold all 416 flats for around Rs 2,300 crore in a luxury residential project in Mumbai on high demand. In a regulatory filing on Friday, DLF said that the entire 416 units launched in the first phase of 'The Westpark' project has been sold for Rs 2,300 crore in less than a week. DLF arm DLF Home Developers Ltd is developing this project at Andheri West in partnership with Trident Realty. 'Our entry into Mumbai represents a significant strategic milestone for DLF," said Aakash Ohri, Joint Managing Director and Chief Business Officer, DLF Home Developers Ltd. 'Mumbai has always been a key component of our national growth strategy, and with the launch of The Westpark, we are proud to offer a development that resonates with the aspirations of the city's discerning residents," he added. DLF and Trident Realty will invest around Rs 900 crore to develop this luxury housing project at Andheri (West). The company launched the first phase of this 5-acre project in a price range of Rs 42,000 per sq ft to Rs 47,000 per sq ft. It sold flats in a range of Rs 4 crore to Rs 7.5 crore. In July 2023, DLF had announced its re-entry in Mumbai market by partnering with NCR-based builder Trident group. Then, DLF had said that the company would hold a 51 per cent stake in the special purpose vehicle (SPV) which will develop this project. The remaining 49 per cent would be with Trident Group. This is a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project. DLF had entered Mumbai two decades ago with purchase of a land parcel. But, in 2012, DLF had sold 17-acre land parcel in Mumbai to Lodha Developers for Rs 2,700 crore. It had also formed a joint venture with Akruti City to develop a few projects, but could not launch any project. DLF, the country's largest real estate firm in terms of market capitalisation, reported a record sales bookings of Rs 21,223 crore in 2024-25 fiscal, an increase of 44 per cent from Rs 14,778 crore in the preceding financial year. DLF's MD Ashok Tyagi recently gave sales bookings guidance for the current fiscal at Rs 20,000-22,000 crore, almost in same range as last financial year. Last month, the company launched and completely sold the 'DLF Privana North' housing project in Gurugram, comprising 1,164 units. DLF will invest around Rs 5,500 crore to develop this 17.7 acre project, which has already been completely sold out for around Rs 11,000 crore. With the successful launch of Gurugram and Mumbai projects, DLF has already achieved more than 50 per cent of its annual sales bookings target. On financial performance, DLF's net profit increased to Rs 4,366.82 crore during 2024-25 fiscal from Rs 2,723.53 crore in the preceding year. Total income rose to Rs 8,995.89 crore in the last fiscal from Rs 6,958.34 crore in the 2023-24 financial year. Since its inception, DLF has developed more than 185 real estate projects and developed an area more than 352 million square feet. DLF Group has 280 million square feet of development potential across residential and commercial segment, including current projects under execution and the identified pipeline. The group has an annuity portfolio of over 45 million square feet. DLF is primarily engaged in the business of the development and sale of residential properties (the Development Business) and the development and leasing of commercial and retail properties (the Annuity Business). PTI MJH DR DR First Published: July 25, 2025, 09:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

WWE legend Hulk Hogan passes on anniversary of 2015 scandal that nearly ended his legacy
WWE legend Hulk Hogan passes on anniversary of 2015 scandal that nearly ended his legacy

Time of India

time40 minutes ago

  • Time of India

WWE legend Hulk Hogan passes on anniversary of 2015 scandal that nearly ended his legacy

Hulk Hogan. Image via:WWE icon Hulk Hogan , real name Terry Bollea, passed away Thursday, July 24, at age 71, in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The date marked a haunting coincidence— it was exactly 10 years since the racist audio leak that almost erased his legacy. Once a symbol of professional wrestling's golden era, Hogan's final chapter is now intertwined with one of the darkest moments in his career. Hulk Hogan's 2015 racist controversy, what went down? Hogan's rise was unmatched. He turned WWE into a household name in the 1980s, riding the wave of 'Hulkamania' straight into movies, television, and pop culture immortality. With his 24-inch pythons, red-and-yellow gear, and booming charisma, he was an icon. — WrestleOps (@WrestleOps) But in 2015, that image shattered. A leaked recording captured Hogan using racial slurs in a tirade about his daughter's boyfriend. 'I'd rather if she was going to f— some n—er,' he said on tape. 'I'd rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n—er worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player!' WWE quickly severed ties. 'WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan),' the company announced at the time. 'WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds.' Hogan was removed from the Hall of Fame page, his merchandise vanished, and his presence across WWE's platforms was erased. In his words, it felt like he 'never existed.' According to transcripts cited by Marc Lamont Hill, Hogan also referred to fellow wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson using the n-word and 'sambo.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is addicted. Undo Johnson later addressed the controversy: 'I was pretty disappointed with what I heard, like all of us... I had not known the man to be racist.' Hulk Hogan's redemption arc After the public fallout, Hogan issued a formal apology: 'Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable... and I apologize for having done it. This is not who I am,' Hogan told PEOPLE. On Good Morning America, he broke down. 'It was wrong. I'm embarrassed by it,' he told ABC's Amy Robach, explaining he was unaware he was being recorded and that he had been at the lowest point in his life. 'I wanted to kill myself,' he said. Hogan attributed his use of the slur to growing up in a rough South Tampa neighborhood where the word 'was just thrown around like it was nothing.' But he pleaded for forgiveness. 'Please forgive me. I'm a nice guy... I'm just Terry Bollea. I'm just a normal man.' In the years that followed, Hogan made efforts to rebuild his public image and raise awareness about the consequences of hate speech. Whether those efforts were enough will remain a point of debate. Also Read: WWE icon Hulk Hogan passes away at 71, triggering heartfelt tributes from sports and entertainment giants As news of his passing broke, fans were left grappling with the complex legacy of a man who once embodied American heroism, only to fall victim to his own words. FAQs Where did Hulk Hogan die? Hogan passed away in Clearwater Beach, Florida, after suffering cardiac arrest. What caused Hulk Hogan's career downfall in 2015? A leaked sex tape captured him using racial slurs, leading to his termination from WWE. How did Hulk Hogan respond to the backlash? He apologized publicly and said he was deeply ashamed, asking fans to forgive him. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store