Udupi: Nearly 100 More Animals Rescued From Illegal Hoarding Hellhole Following Efforts by PETA India
For Immediate Release:
03 October 2025
Contact:
Meet Ashar; [email protected]
Hiraj Laljani; [email protected]
Udupi — After learning about more animals being relentlessly hoarded in deplorable conditions at an illegal facility in Saligrama, Udupi, called ‘Animal Rescue Centre’—a misnomer—run by Mr. Sudhindra Aithal—in a forth joint operation following those that took place in January and February, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India) supported the Udupi Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD), Saligrama Pattana Panchayat, the Forest Department, and Udupi police in conducting a successful raid rescuing nearly 100 animals, taking the total tally of animals rescued from the facility this year to over 300. The efforts followed an SPCA meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate (DC & DM) of Udupi and a final closure order issued by the Saligrama Pattana Panchayat.
Photos and videos from the raid are available upon request.
The rescued animals included pedigree dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, one lovebird, and one hamster. All of the animals were confined in cramped faeces-filled metal cages, just as before. Also similar to what was found in January and February this year, the cages were rusty, and had sharp edges, with no bedding, food, or water bowls. It appeared that the faeces had been left caking for months, creating intolerable living conditions for the animals, who had developed various diseases and infections like canine distemper, parvovirus, scabies, anaemia, maggot wounds, paralysis, and respiratory disorders. Most of the animals were severely dehydrated and weak, had viral infections, eye discharge, lesions, and tick infestations and were found in extremely poor health. Despite multiple warnings and notices, Mr Aithal kept hoarding animals in horrid conditions.
Following the successful raid, the rescued animals have now been rehabilitated in various facilities where they will receive necessary medical care. Once ready, attempts will be made to get the animals adopted.
Mr Aithal, who operates this facility, has a well-documented history of repeatedly acquiring and confining animals in extremely unhygienic and inadequate conditions despite multiple warnings and official notices. His continued disregard for animals’ well-being has resulted in immense suffering for numerous animals.
“PETA India applauds all the authorities for taking action against this facility, which was operating illegally and subjecting animals to severe cruelty, especially the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and District Magistrate, Smt Swaroopa T.K., IAS; the Superintendent of Police, Shri Hariram Shankar, IPS; and the Chief Officer, Saligrama Pattana Panchayat, Shri Ajay Bhandarkar,” says PETA India Cruelty Response Coordinator Sinchana Subramanyan, “We strongly urge the public to avoid supporting breeders and pet stores, most of which are illegal, and to report hoarders who often purport to be rescuers but collect animals out of compulsion and then leave them to rot.”
PETA India strongly urges the concerned authorities to take decisive action by dismantling and permanently destroying the existing empty cages at the facility. This measure is essential to prevent further cruelty and to ensure that these cages are not once again filled with helpless animals subjected to overcrowding, neglect, and abuse.
Facilities that engage in the boarding, breeding, or selling of ‘pet’ animals are required to be registered with the state animal welfare board, as mandated under Rule 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017, and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018, framed under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
An order dated 26 May 2020 issued by the Commissioner of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department, Government of Karnataka, banned operations of unregistered dog breeding centres and pet shops in the state. Addressed to all district collectors and chairs of the district SPCAs, it mandates that all unregistered pet shops and dog breeding establishments not registered with the Karnataka Animal Welfare Board (KAWB) be banned from operating, in accordance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018.
PETA India – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”– opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETAIndia.com or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
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