Kamal Ghorui
HYDERABAD: In a suspected case of abandonment, five Siberian Husky dogs were found deserted near Nandigaon village along the Shankarpally–Patancheru road on the outskirts of Hyderabad early on Wednesday morning. Another dog was found dead, believed to have succumbed to heatstroke. Animal activists involved in the rescue fear that at least 30 more dogs may still be unaccounted for in the surrounding area.The incident came to light after local residents alerted volunteers from AASRA Foundation and SWAN NGO, both of which are engaged in animal rescue and rehabilitation. The volunteers were informed about a pack of Huskies wandering along the roadside and in nearby scrublands under extreme heat conditions. According to locals, some of the dogs had already been taken away by villagers and passing motorists.Activists were told that the animals had been dumped at the site a few days ago. They suspect that the dogs were either abandoned by an illegal breeder or discarded after being used in some lab experiment.Following a complaint filed by activists, the BDL Bhanur Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation. “We are still trying to verify the exact number of abandoned dogs and find out where the vehicle came from. It looks like a case of abandonment by a breeder, given the large number of Huskies. But we cannot be sure at the moment. Investigation is underway,” said an official from the police station.Speaking to TOI, activists described the condition of the animals as extremely poor. “Upon arrival at the site, we found the dogs exhausted, dehydrated, and visibly traumatised after prolonged exposure to harsh weather. One of the dogs had already died, with heatstroke suspected as the cause,” Gowri Vandana of AASRA Foundation. According to eyewitness accounts from villagers, a truck reportedly entered the area on the night of April 20 and unloaded between 35 and 40 Huskies, although this figure remains unverified, Gowri said.The rescued dogs, estimated to be between two and four years old, have since been relocated to shelters where they are receiving medical care and undergoing evaluation. “Blood tests have been conducted to determine whether the animals were subjected to any form of illegal experimentation. They remain under observation,” said Harsh Kishor Bhatnagar of SWAN NGO. Plans are in place to facilitate adoption once they recover, subject to proper verification and training support for prospective owners, Harsh said. Animal welfare advocates have pointed to the broader issue of illegal breeding practices in the Patancheru region, which has long been associated with the supply of exotic dog breeds driven by market demand. “The popularity of breeds such as Huskies has led to inflated prices, often ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. However, maintaining such breeds, particularly in India’s hot climate, is both costly and challenging. As a result, breeders facing financial strain may resort to abandonment,” said Pradeep P of the Animal Warriors Conservation Society.He dismissed the likelihood of the Huskies being used for experimentation, citing the breed’s size and temperament. Concerns have also been raised regarding the weak enforcement of existing breeding regulations. Keren Nazareth of Humane World for Animals India welfare said: “While laws governing breeding practices are clearly defined, their implementation remains extremely poor. Greater scrutiny of registered breeders could help identify regulatory gaps. Beyond Huskies, other cold-climate breeds such as St. Bernard and Chow Chow are similarly affected, as demand continues without sufficient oversight or accountability.“
