Over the past decade, Labradors have become India’s favorite foreign-breed dogs to bring home. However, these social and docile dogs have also become the new strays of India as their owners have been abandoning them at an alarmingly high rate. Reasons being:
Poorly bred labradors have health issues
To meet the high demand for foreign breed dogs in India, unethical puppy mills have bred unhealthy labs in large numbers. When people discover the many health complications their pets face and would require costly medical attention, they choose to abandon them rather than taking care of them.
Buyers do not understand the breed’s needs
Labradors are much coveted because of their friendly and docile temperament. However, they were initially trained as working dogs, who were required to expend a lot of energy. Being confined in small apartments doesn’t give them the chance to engage in stimulating activities that tire them; consequently they get bored and act out. Due to lack of education and awareness, people are unable to manage their dogs and discard them.
Cost and maintenance
Like all pets, labradors also require proper medical care and attention including food, grooming, vaccinations, training etc. When the dog maintenance cost starts to rise, people feel burdened and abandon their labs.
Implications of pet abandonment
Unsterilized abandoned labradors are picked up by breeders and used for breeding till they collapse. Those who remain on the streets have to live like stray dogs without access to food or care and usually end up dying horrible deaths.
Lack of foresight and commitment on the part of owners have caused a sea of labradors to go homeless. VOSD wants to provide a safe haven to all the labradors who don’t have homes or any takers.
Labradors at VOSD
Madhu, Kattu, Barood, Paneer, hope and Rocky are some of the labradors who live at VOSD. They were all abandoned owing to reasons such as old age, health issues. Thankfully, they are safe at VOSD now but they all had to go through the pain of being discarded by their owners.
Kindly report abandoned labradors who cannot be rehomed for reasons such as old age, illness or behavioural issues to info@vosd.in
We are expanding the capacity of VOSD sanctuary to house more abandoned pet dogs, of which labradors constitute the highest proportion. YOU can help more abandoned labradors reach the safety of the VOSD Sanctuary. Please make a small donation now: https://vosd.in/before-the-rains/ or visit www.vosd.in to donate.
