Target: Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Government of India
Goal: Don’t allow cruel experimentation on street animals.
The proposed revisions to the Indian law on the use of animals in biomedical research threaten the welfare of countless street animals, such as dogs, cats, and monkeys, by allowing their use as “random source” subjects, picked up off the streets. This alarming practice has been categorized as inhumane and detrimental to both animal welfare and human health, particularly regarding product safety testing for pharmaceuticals that may reach consumers in the United States. Voices like Maneka Gandhi have expressed deep concern, stating that these changes effectively invite exploitation of animals for experimentation and dismantle long-standing safeguards established to protect them.
Under the draft rules, animals can be obtained from unregulated sources, allowing laboratories to ignore previous efforts to uphold ethical standards. Unscrupulous businesses and illegal laboratories could thrive under this new regulation. These proposed changes could lead to severe suffering for the animals involved, risking their well-being and neglecting their need for treatment. Even more disturbing, the rules permit the use of animals for experiments with extreme outcomes, including inescapable electric shocks and prolonged isolation, raising moral and ethical questions about the treatment of sentient beings.
It is vital to halt these proposed amendments and ensure that animal welfare regulations are strengthened rather than weakened. This is crucial not only for the animals rendered vulnerable by these changes but also for maintaining the integrity of biomedical research and protecting human health.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Singh,
The ongoing developments regarding the Draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Control & Supervision of Experiment, Breeding & Trading of Laboratory Animals) Rules, 2026, are deeply concerning. These proposed regulations would allow for the procurement of “random source” street animals, potentially endangering their lives and well-being. It has been alleged that this could lead to the exploitation of animals in unregulated conditions, compromising both health standards and ethical treatment. This situation permits the continuation of cruel practices that many believed were left behind in a more humane past.
The integrity of India’s animal welfare laws must not be compromised. Take action to strengthen protections for street animals and uphold the dignity of all sentient beings under your care.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Pixabay
